EMN ja OECD joint inform explores responsibilities and access to rights for beneficiaries of temporary protection

The overall aim of this joint EMN-OECD inform is to map national policy and legal changes (both implemented and proposed) that took place from July 2023 to early 2025 concerning the responsibilities and access to rights of BoTP under Directive 2001/55/EC (the Temporary Protection Directive or TPD). Access to rights under temporary protection includes access to employment, medical care, education, social security, and access to (or the means to access) suitable accommodation. In this context, this inform provides a detailed and comparative understanding of the state of play in EMN Member and Observer Countries and selected non-EU OECD countries. It contributes to the creation of a factual basis for future decisions about the possibility to request (financial) contributions from BoTP for the benefits and services they receive under temporary protection. It also offers insights into possible strategies of EMN Member Countries after the expiration of temporary protection.

Key points to note:

• Since 2022, the responding EMN Member and Observer Countries and non-EU OECD Countries have progressively adapted national policies and measures to provide access to employment, healthcare, education, social assistance, and access to (or the means to access) suitable accommodation to beneficiaries of temporary protection (BoTP) following Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.
• Financial benefits and allowances provided to BoTP vary widely, with some countries offering benefits equivalent to those for nationals and others applying reduced or conditional payments after a set period. Adjustments to benefit entitlements increasingly link support to active participation in work, education, or integration activities.
• Some countries have scaled back on the provision of some services, including state accommodation, healthcare, and social assistance to BoTP to balance public finances with ensuring access to rights. New initiatives often focus on strengthening labour market integration and social inclusion, particularly for BoTP who have partially or fully achieved self-reliance.
• Several EMN Member Countries have introduced or plan to introduce financial contributions from BoTP for services like accommodation and meals, typically only from those with sufficient income, while vulnerable groups are exempt. Most countries have set protective thresholds or transitional measures to safeguard low-income BoTP and prevent sudden loss of essential services.
• While broader national debates continue about creating long-term solutions, a minority of EMN Countries are facilitating the transition from temporary protection to alternative residence permits mainly for employed BoTP. Some countries have introduced simplified procedures or alternative residence pathways to retain economically integrated BoTP beyond the end of temporary protection.

Download the inform here.