Ukrainians fleeing to the European Union will be granted full access to the bloc and receive residence permits as well as access to education and jobs as part of a plan expected to be implemented on Thursday.
European member states will consider activating the so-called temporary protection directive that will allow Ukrainians to stay in the EU beyond 90 days, a move expected to be overwhelmingly adopted, according to a senior official at the European Commission.
The 2001 mechanism, which has never been activated before, would allow Ukrainians to enter the bloc for a year, with the possibility of two additional year-long extensions. Non long-term residents in Ukraine can also enter and will be later repatriated to their own countries.