Will the EU forcibly return Ukrainian men: expert's response

Calls from some European politicians for Ukraine to restrict the departure of young men abroad have no legal consequences and are rather a political and moral signal. The European Union neither has the tools nor the motivation for the forced return of Ukrainians. This was stated by the Ukrainian Association of International Employment Companies.

Forced return of Ukrainians from the EU: what does the expert say

This was stated on air by Vasyl Voskoboynyk, head of the NGO Office of Migration Policy. According to him, European countries themselves face a deep demographic crisis and a lack of labor, so they are not interested in forcibly returning Ukrainians.

The expert noted that by 2035, EU countries will need about 15 million migrant workers, and Ukrainians remain one of the most desirable groups in the European labor market.

Return of Ukrainian men after the war: possible scenarios

Voskoboynyk emphasized that after the war ends, Ukrainians will make a weighed decision about returning, comparing living conditions in Ukraine and the EU. Key factors will be:

• level of security
• employment opportunities
• availability of housing
• education for children
• quality of social infrastructure

According to international experience, especially after the wars in the Balkans, about 30% of citizens who left returned. A similar figure is predicted for Ukraine, but it directly depends on the pace of changes in the country after the war.

A particular role in demographic recovery, according to the expert, is played by young men. Families with children have the highest chances of returning under stable conditions, while unmarried men, who have nothing tying them to a specific territory, have the least chance of returning. 'Without the return of youth, we will not be able to solve the demographic issue,' Voskoboynyk summarized.

Recall that the Christian Social Union (CSU) is making new harsh demands regarding Ukrainian refugees, calling for the return of able-bodied Ukrainian men to their homeland and the deportation of Syrians and Afghans.