EU urged to prepare for potential Ukrainian refugee surge
Germany and the EU must anticipate a potential new wave of refugees from Ukraine, warn German politicians.
Suppose the progress of the Russian invasion in Ukraine results in a new exodus of refugees to the European Union. In that case, the EU must create a mechanism for the fair distribution of responsibilities among member states – argued German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser at the EU interior ministers' meeting in Brussels on Thursday (6 March 2025, Greenwich 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 necessary, a mandatory and binding redistribution of Ukrainian refugees across the EU based on a fair mechanism would be required. While expressing hope that this situation does not occur, she acknowledged it as a possible scenario.
Under a special EU directive, refugees from Ukraine do not need to apply for asylum, and they are automatically accepted into EU countries. According to Eurostat data from November 2024, there are 4.2 million Ukrainian refugees in the EU. The primary responsibility for accommodating and supporting them has since 2022 fallen on three countries: Poland, the Czech Republic, and Germany, as Faeser reminded attendees at the meeting. In Germany alone, there were over 1.3 million in November, in Poland about 1 million, and in the Czech Republic approximately 380,000, the highest in the EU relative to the host country's population.
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, and the threat to 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 annexation of Crimea in 2014 was inadequate, leading to the current security threats. Stressing the need for significant rearmament, Söder pointed out the frequent provocations and ongoing minor or major violations. He concluded that while the situation does not constitute war, the previous state of peace no longer exists.
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