When Admission Excludes Integration 1: Temporary Protection in European Union Law and Practice

Abstract

This chapter critically assesses the European Union’s Temporary Protection Directive in light of its activation following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The chapter considers the content of the Directive, with a special focus on its effects on the integration prospects of its beneficiaries. It is argued that while the Directive allows humanitarian admission, it also presents obstacles to long-term solutions and integration efforts. The case of Hungary is considered to illustrate the systematic and country-specific challenges that arise from the minimum set of rights and the temporary nature of the Directive, such as limited access to employment and education and a precarious legal and social status. The chapter concludes with suggestions that could shift the current temporary protection to more durable solutions, leading to a more stable legal and social status suitable for both integration and, at a later stage, sustainable returns to Ukraine.