Hungary has informed the European Commission that it will exercise its discretion to apply the rules of temporary protection for Ukrainians. This may allow the country to continue granting status to newcomers who are required to confirm their military obligations or the legality of their departure from Ukraine. More details about new temporary protection rules in the EU. This was announced by the European Commission spokesperson Markus Lamert during a briefing on October 7.
What Hungary Decided Regarding Ukrainians
The European Commission confirmed that the Hungarian authorities informed it of their intention to utilize the opportunity provided by Article 7 of the Temporary Protection Directive. This provision gives EU countries some flexibility when applying the rules.
At the same time, the general rule of the European Union states that newcomers who did not receive permission from Ukrainian authorities to leave due to military obligations will not be granted temporary protection. The European Commission emphasizes that this approach must be applied by all states, although they may use the legislative space available for decisions.
Lamert did not specify whether Hungary will apply this approach to all applicants or determine the conditions separately. He noted that the intentions of the Hungarian government should be clarified with its representatives. Thus, Budapest's notification is not an automatic guarantee of approval for every application.
Documents That May Be Required for Protection in the EU
Temporary protection for Ukrainians has been extended until March 4, 2028. The new requirement concerns applicants who apply for status after the relevant rules come into effect; it does not apply to those who already have protection in an EU country and maintain it continuously.
The legality of departure can be confirmed, in particular, by a stamp from the Ukrainian border service in the passport. If it is absent, an official document in paper or electronic form may be requested, for example, from the application 'Reserve+'. Inkorr previously explained how to confirm legal border crossing.
Document requirements and the review procedure depend on the specific situation and the country. Before submitting an application, it is advisable to check whether the new rule applies to the applicant and what evidence the respective state accepts. Earlier, Inkorr also wrote whether the data in 'Reserve+' will be verified during the processing of temporary protection.