EU country to slash benefits for Ukrainian migrants
The Czech government has approved tighter rules for Ukrainian migrants, including restrictions on residency rights and welfare benefits, amid concerns over alleged abuse of aid.
The Czech cabinet approved the legislation on Monday at the proposal of Interior Minister Lubomir Metnar, endorsing sweeping changes to seven Ukraine-related laws governing asylum and foreign residency. Officials said the measures were aimed at addressing concerns that Ukrainian refugees enjoyed advantages over local residents.
The Czech Republic, a country of 10 million people hosting around 385,000 Ukrainian migrants, has one of the EU’s highest refugee populations per capita, Metnar said. He added that EU discussions on extending refugee protections beyond 2027 could include limits for military-age men, as Ukraine faces shortages of soldiers.
Prime Minister Andrej Babis said the government had approved a tougher security-driven crackdown on temporary protection rules for Ukrainian migrants as part of a broader security push, though the bill still requires parliamentary approval.
“We are tightening the conditions for granting temporary protection, as we have in our government’s program statement,” Babis stated.
Under the proposal, Ukrainians receiving humanitarian aid would have to work, run a business, or actively seek employment through the Czech Labor Office. To qualify for payments, they would also need to spend at least 16 days each month in the Czech Republic. Children, students, and pensioners would be exempt.
The government also wants to strip temporary protection from migrants who spend more than 30 days outside the Schengen Area or are expelled over criminal or administrative offenses. The bill would tighten access to special residence permits and overhaul state-funded health insurance rules for Ukrainians under temporary protection.
The legislation would also force owners of Ukrainian-registered cars to enter their vehicles into the Czech registry and undergo the same technical inspections required for Czech drivers. Czech media say around 28,000 Ukrainian cars are officially registered in the country, though experts estimate the real number could be twice as high.
Governments across Europe are increasingly scaling back support for Ukrainian refugees as pressure grows on welfare systems and public frustration over migration costs rises. More than 4.35 million Ukrainians are registered for temporary protection across the EU, according to Eurostat, while countries including Poland, Germany, and Hungary have already moved to cut benefits.
