From Reception to Reconstruction: Leveraging a multi-stakeholder approach to displaced Ukrainians’ inclusion
The European Union (EU) hosts around 4.2 million displaced Ukrainians under temporary protection, granting them access to various socio-economic rights and allowing intra-EU mobility. Their employment rate is higher than other migrant and refugee groups, yet structural barriers persist, affecting integration outcomes.
Temporary protection is set to expire in March 2026, compounding challenges. A potential US-imposed ceasefire adds uncertainty, making long-term planning difficult. While prospects for an EU-wide status for displaced Ukrainians post-2026 are unclear, they can already obtain national permits in some states. Many still hope to return to Ukraine, although this prospect depends on the economic and security situation in Europe and Ukraine, and grows less likely over time.
Amid the combined effect of unspeakable devastation from Russia’s full-scale invasion and demographic decline in Ukraine, the country’s reconstruction – and in particular, the future of critical sectors such as construction, transport, agriculture, and public services – depends on displaced Ukrainians’ potential return.
