The latest EMN national study offers an insight into the main challenges and effective measures used to protect the rights of temporary protection holders under the Temporary Protection Directive in Slovakia, which was granted to people fleeing the war in Ukraine. The study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding and address the diverse life situations of people granted temporary protection.
Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine on 24 February 2022, Slovakia quickly reacted to the large number of people fleeing the war and within a few days implemented various actions, both legislative and non-legislative in order to regulate the legal status and integration of people arriving in the Slovakia. The Slovak Government1 regulated the provision of temporary protection in accordance with the Council Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/382 of 4 March 2022 establishing the existence of a mass influx of displaced persons from Ukraine within the meaning of Article 5 of Directive 2001/55/EC and having the effect of introducing temporary protection.
The sudden influx of people fleeing the war in Ukraine represented a challenge to both Slovakia and EU countries, calling for a rapid response to the situation. With the conflict continuing, it is vital to establish the policies and measures of the state and acknowledge the fact that some of the temporary protection holders do not intend to return to Ukraine. It is imperative to implement new measures that shall ensure the integration of refugees from Ukraine, not only benefiting themselves, but for the benefit of the society as a whole.
After the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, the aim of the national study is to gain an understanding and address diverse life circumstances of people granted temporary protection. In particular it looks at different methods of addressing specific situations, including but not limited to changing temporary protection status to another type of residence, moving and relocating within and outside the EU or with documents renewal process.
The study provides an overview of the main challenges as well as examples of good practice and measures used to safeguard the rights of temporary protection holders under the Temporary Protection Directive in Slovakia. These are divided into following categories:
- access to accommodation
- healthcare
- education
- social assistance
- access to the labour market
Special attention is directed towards vulnerable groups, including unaccompanied minors, as well as the issue of combating trafficking in human beings.
