COPENHAGEN – Denmark is preparing to tighten its migration policy towards Ukrainian citizens. According to European media, the government in Copenhagen wants to limit the automatic granting of temporary protection to people arriving from 14 regions of western and central Ukraine, which Danish authorities consider relatively safe. The measure would represent a further departure from the current blanket approach to Ukrainian refugees.
The Danish government argues primarily about the security situation in individual parts of Ukraine. While some areas remain directly affected by armed conflict, regions in western and central Ukraine are considered to be exposed to lower risk according to Copenhagen. It is precisely this differing security situation across various regions that will now become one of the factors when deciding on granting protection.
If approved, incoming individuals from selected areas will no longer automatically qualify for the same protection regime as those fleeing the most threatened parts of the country. Denmark thus intends to assess applicants' individual situations and their reasons for arrival more closely.
Another change is expected to affect Ukrainian citizens receiving social benefits in Denmark. The government plans to introduce mandatory work activities for all Ukrainians dependent on social support. The aim of this measure is to facilitate faster integration into the labour market while simultaneously reducing costs associated with providing social assistance.
Denmark's approach aligns with a broader European debate about the future of the temporary protection system for Ukrainians. EU member states are gradually addressing how to handle millions of people who have sought safety outside their homeland since the beginning of the conflict. While rapid aid and ensuring basic living conditions were initially top priorities, greater attention is now being devoted to employment, integration, and long-term residence.
According to submitted information, the European Union also changed its approach towards certain categories of Ukrainian citizens in August and stopped granting temporary protection to persons subject to military service obligations. This step may be part of a broader effort by EU institutions to gradually adjust rules according to developments on Ukraine.
Denmark has long been among EU countries advocating for stricter migration policies. Therefore, these new proposals could serve as an important signal for other European nations that will have to decide on the shape of Ukrainian protection in coming years.
The future of the temporary protection system thus remains one of key topics in European migration policy. While some EU governments emphasise the need to continue supporting Ukrainians, others are increasingly calling for a return to individual assessment of applications, greater involvement of refugees in the labour market, and limitations on automatic entitlements to protection.
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