On 19 May 2022 in Brussels, Belgium, an information session on “EU Solidarity with Ukraine: protecting people fleeing the war” was held by the Directorate General for Migration and Home Affairs and the Mission of Ukraine to the EU. ICMPD, represented by Lukas Gehrke, is honoured to have been a part of it.
The panelists at the session were Vsevolod Chentsov, Ambassador of Ukraine to the EU and Beate Gminder, Deputy Director General of Directorate General for Migration and Home Affairs in European Commission, Mery Akopyan, Deputy Minister of the Interior of Ukraine and Diane Schmitt, EU Anti-Trafficking Coordinator. ICMPD, represented by Lukas Gehrke, also took part in the discussion. He stressed the importance of access to the labour market for Ukrainians: “We are convinced that making the right to work a reality will help the Ukrainians who fled the war to lead a stable and decent life.”
One important focus of the discussion was on Temporary Protection of people fleeing the war and entering the EU, as well as on anti-trafficking in human beings, one of the key threats in EU countries and other practical aspects of proper integration of Ukrainians arrived in the EU.
The event was hosted by the Ukrainian Civil Society Hub.