On October 13, 2022, Nataliia Naumenko, the Chairwoman of the State Migration Service of Ukraine, participated online in the conference “Six months into applying the Temporary Protection Directive”. The event was jointly organized by the National Contact Points of the European Migration Network of Luxembourg and Cyprus.
Taking into account the recently signed Administrative Agreements establishing cooperation between the State Migration Service of Ukraine (hereinafter – SMS) and the European Commission in the European Migration Network (hereinafter – EMM), participation in the conference will contribute to the development of cooperation in all directions with the EMM, deepening of Ukraine’s integration into the European Community, as well as further development of cooperation between the relevant agencies of Ukraine and the EU.
During the event issues related to the Temporary Protection Directive, that was adopted during the conflicts in the former Yugoslavia and first introduced by the Council of the EU in response to the increase in the number of Ukrainian citizens, who moved into the territory of the EU member states after the full-scale military aggression of russia in Ukraine, were discussed. The EMM member states and observers shared the experience gained during the application of the Directive, because it became very important for the support of Ukraine, as well as quick and effective assistance to Ukrainians.
During the welcoming speech the Chairwoman of the SMS Nataliia Naumenko thanked on behalf of the SMS for the support and assistance that Ukraine received in connection with the large-scale military aggression of the russian federation, which caused an unprecedented humanitarian crisis that covered the whole Ukraine and caused the largest wave of migration of Ukrainians inside and outside the country.
- The application of the Temporary Protection Directive by the EU MS made it possible for persons who left the territory of Ukraine after February 24, 2022, to stay legally on the territory of the EU countries during one year, gain free access to the labor market, education, social protection and the health care system, - mentioned the Chairwoman of the SMS of Ukraine.
Nataliia Naumenko also presented the project initiated by the SMS and implemented by the Government of Ukraine, which allowed the opening of foreign offices of the State Enterprise “Document”, which is under authority of the SMS and is the administrator of the Unified State Demographic Register of Ukraine. Now, such offices operate in Warsaw, Krakow and Gdańsk.
- The work of such offices abroad helps to solve the issues of registration and issuance of passport documents to citizens of Ukraine. We are working on opening such offices in other states with significant numbers of Ukrainians. In particular, these countries are Turkey, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Germany and Spain, - said the Chairwoman of the SMS of Ukraine.
At the same time, foreign colleagues were informed about the active participation of the SMS in the issues on the return of children to Ukraine who were temporarily abroad and Ukrainians who were forcibly deported to Russia and Belarus. In addition, Nataliia Naumenko spoke about cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories on the issues related to the issuance of certificates on return to Ukraine.
The participants of the event unanimously supported Ukraine and promised to continue their support in all necessary directions that will help bring our country closer to victory. The Chairwoman of the SMS specified that the Ukrainian experience can become a reference point for the development of a conceptually new migration policy of the European community.