Information for Ukrainian residents with MS arriving in the European Union

12.04.2022

Immediate basic assistance to ensure that people with MS are cared for despite the ongoing war in Ukraine. 

Introduction

 “In organisations such as the European Multiple Sclerosis Platform (EMSP) we have always been clear about the inestimable value of being united in representing the voice of people, especially towards the European institutions whose decisions impact the future of people affected by MS in Europe.”
[Pedro Carrascal, EMSP President] 

 EMSP, together with its member societies, is devoted to supporting all people with multiple sclerosis (MS) who have been affected by the war in Ukraine. We, together with the international MS community will focus our actions towards enabling the MS societies to provide immediate basic assistance and to ensure that people with MS are cared for despite the ongoing war.  

 On March 4th, 2022, the European Union adopted the ‘Temporary Protection Directive’ to help people leaving Ukraine and willing to settle in the European Union (in each of the 27 countries included in the European Union).  The Temporary Protection Directive was specifically conceived to give immediate protection to the persons who need it and to avoid overwhelming Member States’ asylum systems.   Under this proposal, Ukrainian nationals and people who have made Ukraine their home as well as their family members displaced by the conflict will be entitled to protection across the European Union. Non-Ukrainian nationals and stateless people legally residing in Ukraine who cannot return to their country or region of origin, such as asylum seekers or beneficiaries of international protection and their family members, will also be granted protection in the EU. Others who are legally present in Ukraine for a short-term and are able to return safely to their country of origins will fall outside the scope of this protection. Nevertheless, should be allowed access to the EU to transit prior to returning to their countries of origin.   There are two options when crossing the border into the European Union:  
  • You can move freely for up to 90 days on a standard tourist visa  
  • You can claim temporary protection for 1 year, which may be renewed for up to 3 years in total depending on the circumstances  
 The Temporary Protection Directive outlines a number of obligations of EU countries towards persons enjoying temporary protection, granting Ukrainian nationals, residents and their family members displaced by the conflict the following:  
  • a residence permit for the entire duration of the protection (which can last from one year to three years) 
  • appropriate information on temporary protection 
  • guarantees for access to the asylum procedure 
  • access to employment, subject to rules applicable to the profession and to national labour market policies and general conditions of employment
  • access to suitable accommodation or housing 
  • access to social welfare or means of subsistence if necessary 
  • access to medical care
  • access to education for persons under 18 years to the state education system
  • opportunities for families to reunite in certain circumstances 
  • access to banking services, for instance opening a basic bank account  
  • move to another EU country, before the issuance of a residence permit  
  • move freely in EU countries (other than the Member State of residence) for 90 days within a 180-day period after a residence permit in the host EU country is issued 
 Please note that once one can only claim temporary protection in one Member State. You should therefore only register for temporary protection when you have reached the country in which you want to stay for a longer period.     For more general information visit the European Commission webpage dedicated to providing information for people fleeing the war in Ukraine – here. 
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