EU faces challenge in fair distribution of Ukrainian refugees
Germany and the EU must anticipate a possible new wave of refugees from Ukraine, warn German politicians.
Suppose the progress of the Russian invasion in Ukraine triggers a new exodus of refugees to the European Union. In that case, the EU must develop a mechanism for the fair distribution of burdens among member states, argued German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser at the EU interior ministers' meeting in Brussels on Thursday (06/03/2025, Eastern Time).
In her speech, she warned that the escalation of the war by Russia, combined with the potential withdrawal of US aid, could worsen living conditions in a defending Ukraine.
She emphasized that, if the situation arises, a mandatory and binding allocation of Ukrainian refugees across the EU based on a fair mechanism would be essential. While expressing hope that such a scenario could be avoided, she acknowledged its possibility.
Under a special EU directive, refugees from Ukraine do not have to apply for asylum and are automatically accepted in Union countries. According to Eurostat data from November 2024, there are 4.2 million Ukrainian refugees in the EU. The main burden of accommodating and supporting them has fallen since 2022 on three countries: Poland, the Czech Republic, and Germany, Faeser reminded at the meeting. In Germany alone, there were over 1.3 million in November, in Poland, about one million, and in the Czech Republic, about 380,000 (the most in the EU relative to the host country's citizens).
Bavarian premier on refugees
The leader of the conservative CSU and Bavarian Premier Markus Söder also addressed Ukraine's situation during his party's rally on Ash Wednesday in Passau. He warned of the danger threatening Ukraine, which would be defenceless without US aid, as well as Europe. "I cannot speak about the details," he added.
"If things end the way [Russian President Vladimir] Putin wants, millions of Ukrainians will flee to Europe," said Söder.
He noted that Europe's response to Russia's forcible annexation of Crimea in 2014 was inadequate, which has now led to increased threats. Emphasizing the need for significant rearmament, Söder pointed out daily provocations and violations continue. While acknowledging that the situation does not constitute a state of war, he stressed that peace is no longer as it once was.
