EU Temporary Protection Directive

The European Commission decided to activate the Temporary Protection Directive (TPD) to offer assistance to people fleeing Ukraine, amid the Russian invasion.

About temporary protection

• Under Temporary Protection Directive (TPD) of 2001, “temporary protection” is described as an “exceptional measure to provide immediate and temporary protection to displaced persons from non-European Union (EU) countries and those unable to return to their country of origin”.
• According to Article 1 of the Temporary Protection Directive the purpose of the directive is to establish minimum standards for giving temporary protection to displaced persons.

Importance of establishing standards

• 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.

Origin of TPD

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

The directive gives certain rights to the beneficiaries of temporary protection. They include:

1. A residence permit for the duration of the protection (1-3 years).
2. Access to jobs, housing, social welfare, medical treatment, education for minors.
3. Opportunities for families to reunite in some circumstances.
4. Guarantees for access to the normal asylum procedure.

Activation of Temporary Protection Directive (TPD) for the people of Ukraine is being considered as a sign of European unity against Russia, as this is the first time that the EU has invoked the directive.

Month: Current Affairs - March, 2022

Category: International / World Current Affairs