EU formally extends Temporary Protection Directive for refugees from Ukraine until March 2025

MOSCOW. Oct 20 (Interfax) - The European Union has formally extended the Temporary Protection Directive for refugees from Ukraine until March 4, 2025, Ukrainian media said, citing the European Commission website.

"On September 27, 2023, the Council reached a political agreement to extend temporary protection [for Ukrainian citizens] until March 4, 2025. The decision was made on October 19, 2023," the commission said.

The European Union invoked the Temporary Protection Directive on March 4, 2022. This EU mechanism is deployed in exceptional circumstances of mass influx to provide collective protection for displaced people and reduce pressure on EU countries' national asylum systems.

According to the European Commission, 4.1 million refugees from Ukraine have been registered for temporary protection or similar status in the EU.