Nawrocki signs law introducing new rules for assistance to Ukrainian refugees

Polish President Karol Nawrocki on Thursday approved the termination of the 2022 special law on assistance to Ukrainian citizens who arrived in Poland after the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Under the signed document, the key provisions of the special law will be incorporated into the general law on granting protection to foreigners, Ukrinform reports, citing Polish Press Agency (PAP).

"My signature on this document shows that consistency in action makes sense. My pressure on this matter, including a previous veto, forced the government to revise the draft and introduce changes expected by many Poles and proposed by me," Nawrocki said in a video address regarding the signing and vetoing of several laws.

He emphasized that Warsaw continues to stand with Kyiv "in its fight against imperial Russia," and that in the first months of the war Poland "passed the test of solidarity like no other country."

At the same time, he added that he had promised to end the "stage of unconditional privileges" and that he had fulfilled this commitment today.

Nawrocki stated that the law he signed ends the emergency assistance framework and introduces systemic rules.

"I am signing this law with the conviction that it protects our public finances, organizes the system, and restores a sense of basic fairness," he said.

The so-called special assistance law, in force since 2022, had simplified residence and employment rules, as well as access to social benefits and education for Ukrainian war refugees. The new law repeals the system created under that act. Instead, a unified system of temporary protection for all foreigners will be introduced. Under this framework, the most important instruments of the previous law will be transferred to the legislation governing the protection of foreigners.

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