The European Union is preparing to grant Ukrainians who flee the war the right to stay and work in the EU for up to three years, Reuters reports.
At least 400,000 Ukrainian refugees have entered the EU so far, EU home affairs commissioner Ylva Johansson said after a visit to a border crossing between Romania and Ukraine.
We have to prepare for millions (to arrive in the EU).
Ministers on Sunday asked Johansson to prepare proposals to trigger the EU temporary protection directive, drawn up after the 1990s war in the Balkans, but never used so far.
Designed to deal with mass arrivals of displaced persons in the 27-nation bloc, the directive provides for the same level of protection in all EU states, including a residence permit and access to employment and social welfare.
Johansson said she hoped EU interior ministers would agree by Thursday on the protection scheme for those fleeing Ukraine.
