The Commission last month extended temporary protection for the roughly 4.3 million displaced Ukrainians who have found refuge in the EU since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.
The EU executive also announced its plan to either transition Ukrainian refugees into permanent legal arrangements or facilitate their return home, and will launch so-called unity hubs, information centers run jointly with Ukraine that will provide guidance on integration and returning home.
The special envoy’s role will be to “enhance coordination, represent the interests of Ukrainians, and implement practical support tools, including the development” of those centers, the EU’s Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner announced last week.
Ukraine has long eyed repatriating its people as its war with Russia grinds on. While some European officials have warned of growing “fatigue” in host countries toward Ukrainian refugees, other European countries are keen to keep them to boost their workforces.
Yurii Stasiuk contributed to this report.