Temporary Protection Directive

Temporary Protection Directive

News: Over 1.5 million people fled Ukraine in the first 10 days of fighting, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, which has described the displacement as the “fastest growing refugee crisis since the Second World War”.Responding to the crisis, EU Member States on March 3 made the unprecedented decision to activate the European Union’s Council Directive 2001/55/EC of 20 July 2001, known as the Temporary Protection Directive (TPD).The war in Ukraine is the first time that the EU has invoked the TPD. It is being seen as another sign of European unity against Russia.

What is TPD?
• The European Commission describes “temporary protection” under the TPD as an “exceptional measure to provide immediate and temporary protection to displaced persons from non-EU countries and those unable to return to their country of origin”.
• The directive applies when “there is a risk that the standard asylum system is struggling to cope with demand stemming from a mass influx risking a negative impact on the processing of claims”.
• Having proper standards will reduce the disparities between the policies of European Union (EU) countries on the treatment of potential refugees during mass influx.
• The standards also promote burden-sharing among EU countries regarding receiving a large number of displaced persons in a short duration and bearing the consequences of receiving such persons.
• After the end of the cold war and the disintegration of the USSR, Europe witnessed multiple armed conflicts. Due to these conflicts, many people got displaced and sought refuge in other countries. Thus, European Union (EU) brought Temporary Protection Directive in 2001 to address the situation of a mass influx of displaced persons.
• Obligations on EU countries:
o The directive gives certain rights to the beneficiaries of temporary protection. They include:
o A residence permit for the duration of the protection (1-3 years).
o Access to jobs, housing, social welfare, medical treatment, education for minors.
o Opportunities for families to reunite in some circumstances.
o Guarantees for access to the normal asylum procedure.