Poland tightens criteria for Ukrainian refugee support

The government justifies these measures by citing a stabilization in the refugee situation, asserting that most Ukrainian adults are now integrated into the labor market. According to reporting from Krytyka Polityczna, the primary driver for these changes is a desire to curb public spending. However, critics argue these savings may be negligible, given that Ukrainian workers actively address local labor shortages and contribute to the national social security system.

Individual cases highlight the human cost of these reforms. While some, like Irina, have successfully transitioned to private employment, others face precarious choices. Katia, a student interviewed for the report, must now abandon her education to provide for her family after her father lost access to free healthcare under the new rules. Despite these domestic changes, Poland remains the second-largest host for displaced Ukrainians in the EU, sheltering nearly one million people, while Germany leads with 1.3 million. Whether this policy shift will trigger a migration of refugees toward more flexible EU jurisdictions remains to be seen as the bloc maintains temporary protection status through May 2027.