Lithuania calls for unified EU approach on asylum restrictions for conscription-age Ukrainians
Saturday 27th June 2026 on 15:15 in
Lithuania
Lithuania’s Ministry of the Interior (VRM) has stated that any decision to restrict asylum for conscription-age Ukrainian men must be uniformly applied across all EU member states, following a proposal by the European Commission (EC) to end refugee protection for such individuals.
In a statement to BNS on Friday, the ministry warned that differing national rules could trigger uncontrolled secondary migration of war refugees within the EU. “We believe a unified position among all EU countries is essential—otherwise, varying regulations would encourage the unmanaged movement of people fleeing war from one member state to another,” the VRM said.
The ministry added that Lithuania would assess the legal, administrative, and judicial implications of the proposal, as well as its impact on the broader asylum system. It also expressed support for the EU’s gradual transition away from temporary protection, encouraging Ukrainians to seek alternative legal statuses, such as work-based residence permits.
“Given the unstable security situation in Ukraine, it is reasonable to encourage Ukrainians to move to other legal statuses,” the VRM noted, while confirming Lithuania’s readiness to seek compromise in the EU Council if member states push for restrictions on conscription-age men.
The EC’s proposal, made at Kyiv’s request, would apply only to new applicants and not affect those already granted temporary protection. For other Ukrainian refugees, the Commission proposes extending protection until 4 March 2028.
The EU’s temporary protection scheme, introduced after Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, has so far covered over 4 million Ukrainians. According to EU data, adult men make up 27% of beneficiaries, women 43%, and minors 30%. The largest Ukrainian communities under this scheme are in Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic.
In Ukraine, men aged 23–60 are generally barred from leaving the country under martial law, with those aged 25–60 subject to conscription.
The VRM described the current temporary protection mechanism as effective, stating it “works well, does not create additional administrative burdens, and effectively protects vulnerable persons.”