French senator: If France wants to help Ukrainians, it should not block their return home
France needs to improve the temporary protection mechanism for Ukrainians so that they can receive the necessary rights and assistance without having to apply for refugee status and without losing the option to return to Ukraine.
Nadia Solohub, chair of the “France–Ukraine” Friendship Group in the French Senate, spoke about this in an interview with Ukrinform.
“Ukrainians should be able to maintain their temporary protection status while receiving assistance for adults with disabilities, as well as other rights in the appropriate format. And this would not cost France any more. I also learned that forcing them to surrender their Ukrainian passports is illegal. The authorities have no reason to withhold passports, even if they have applied for asylum,” said Sologub, who is the author of a legislative initiative to improve the temporary protection mechanism for Ukrainians in France.
This initiative was adopted a year ago by the Senate, but it has not yet been considered by the second chamber of the French parliament—the National Assembly.
“No one cares. No one has yet figured out what exactly needs to be done. Ukrainians are beginning to apply for refugee status en masse. This simply inflates the application statistics but doesn’t help anyone. I have no conflict with any government officials, but there is no support either, at least not yet. But I continue to advocate for this issue,” she added.
According to the senator, real help for Ukraine should consist of legislation that does not force Ukrainians to surrender their country’s passports and seek refugee status.
“If we truly want to help Ukraine, we need to think about tomorrow. Who will rebuild Ukraine tomorrow? If we block people here, forcing them to seek asylum, no one will return tomorrow. And Ukraine will need its children, its women. Women will play a huge role in Ukraine tomorrow. Therefore, I think we need to be very careful about all this. Don’t close the door. Give people protection, but also the opportunity to think about tomorrow,” Solohub emphasized.
As reported by Ukrinform, the Czech Ministry of the Interior will propose amendments to the government aimed at tightening migration rules, strengthening control over the stay of foreigners, and adjusting the conditions for temporary protection and the provision of humanitarian benefits, which primarily concern Ukrainians.
Photo: Sénat