EU Commission proposes excluding fighting-age men from Ukraine refugee scheme

The European Commission proposed extending temporary protection for Ukrainian refugees until March 2028, excluding newly arrived men of fighting age due to Ukraine's conscription rules. The scheme, which allows 4 million people to live and work in EU countries, aims to balance protection needs with Ukraine's defense requirements. The Council of Europe's Human Rights Commissioner warned against blanket rejections of conscription-age men, advocating for individual case reviews.