Over 400,000 people have fled Ukraine so far, seeking help chiefly in Poland, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia. However, there's a need to prepare for millions of refugees, European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson told a news conference in Bratislava on Tuesday
Johansson met in Bratislava with Interior Minister Roman Mikulec, Foreign Affairs Minister Ivan Korcok, and the Ukrainian Ambassador to Slovakia, as well as with representatives of NGOs.
The commissioner said the aim of her visit to Slovakia was to map out real needs in connection with the crisis in Ukraine. She expects the EU to activate the 2001 directive on immediate temporary protection for the first time in history on Thursday (March 3). It will be effective in all member states. According to Johansson, the directive's activation should ensure aid to Ukrainians that’s as effective as possible. For example, it should provide a legal basis for the protection of refugees from Ukraine even after 90 days, the time in which Ukrainians can currently move without visas in the EU's territory.
Concerning Ukraine's potential EU membership, Johansson stated that she emotionally feels that the Ukrainians already belong to the Union. On the other hand, she pointed out that the country’s EU membership has a long way to go, so it might take some time.
Source: TASR
