Austria proposes ending automatic EU protection for Ukrainian men of conscription age

Austria’s Interior Minister Gerhard Karner has called for ending, from March 2027, the automatic granting of temporary protection in the EU to Ukrainian men aged 23 to 60, arguing that Ukraine needs its male citizens.

He made the statement in an interview with the German newspaper Die Welt ahead of a meeting of EU interior ministers in Luxembourg, Ukrinform reports.

According to the publication, interior ministers of EU member states are for the first time discussing the possibility of significantly reducing the number of Ukrainian refugees who automatically receive temporary protection under the so-called Mass Influx Directive.

The discussions reportedly include the potential termination, starting in March next year, of automatic temporary protection for Ukrainian men aged 23 to 60 who are legally prohibited from leaving Ukraine under national legislation. However, this would not apply to men who are already on EU territory.

“There should no longer be automatic protection status for Ukrainian men from March 2027. Ukraine itself needs its male citizens of military age,” Karner said.

He argued that such a move would ultimately help Ukraine: “Ukraine needs its own male citizens to defend the country, but also to maintain its economic strength.”

Karner also stressed the need to prepare the changes in advance, saying: “We must act quickly,” and adding that legal clarity should be ensured for those affected.

Read also: Ukrainian men of conscription age may be denied temporary protection in EU – media

According to Die Welt, preliminary consultations among EU member states showed support for the idea of no longer granting temporary protection to men aged 23 to 60. EU working groups are also discussing how the new rules could be implemented in practice, including a mechanism where Ukrainian exit stamps could be used to determine whether a man left Ukraine legally.

As previously reported, the EU is planning to extend temporary protection for Ukrainian refugees beyond March 2027, although restrictions may be introduced for certain categories of men.