Ukraine

Background

The aggression against Ukraine on 24 February 2022 has triggered the fastest and largest displacement of people in Europe since World War II. According to UNHCR, as of December 2022, close to 7.9 million refugees from Ukraine have been recorded across Europe, and 4.7 million refugees from Ukraine haveregistered for temporary protection or similar national protection schemes.

Many cities and regions in the EU were at the frontline of efforts to welcome displaced Ukrainians. Yet, they face numerous challenges, from limited funding to capacity crunches, particularly in relation to housing. In addition, the flurry of voluntary initiatives to support displaced Ukrainians has led to a complex set of (new) actors, increasing the need for coordination. And as the war drags on, affected EU Member States and cities are reaching a critical juncture and need to shift from emergency to longer-term responses.

What has the Partnership done?

Ad-Hoc plenary sessions on Ukraine

Swiftly reacting to the situation in Ukraine, the Partnership convened two ad-hoc plenary sessions in April and May 2022 to discuss the most pressing issues related to the inclusion of displaced people from Ukraine. Apart from Partnership members, key external stakeholders, such as frontline cities in neighbouring countries to Ukraine, were invited to the sessions.

Common challenges shared by participants included:

  • Short-term and longer-term accommodation. Amid preexisting capacity crunches and housing shortages, many local, regional and national authorities are struggling to provide accommodation for the high number of displaced Ukrainians.

  • Registration. Some people fleeing the conflict have not registered under the TPD or similar national protection schemes, and they are thus invisible in the system. This can be particularly challenging in cities receiving a high influx of displaced Ukrainians, such as Warsaw, Krakow, and Budapest.

  • Coordination. The wide range of actors involved in the response to Ukraine at different levels of government requires strengthened coordination. This involves coordination across different levels of governance (national, local, regional), as well as and also within each government organization (e.g. across ‘departments or ‘silos’).  

  • Data. Another challenge identified was the lack of accurate data about the number of displaced Ukrainians and their intention to stay or move, which makes more difficult the delivery of services.

  • Funding. Funding for short-term needs as well as longer-term measures was highlighted as a key challenge.

  • Safeguarding of vulnerable individuals. Participants reflected on the risk of losing sight of those who are more vulnerable, such as unaccompanied minors, and stressed the heightened risk of sexual violence, trafficking and exploitation given the high numbers of women and children fleeing the conflict.

Participants also shared relevant initiatives to support those displaced by the war, including the measures taken by the European Commission, the Info-Support Hub of the Committee of the Regions, or the financial and technical support provided by financial institutions such as the European Investment Bank.

Four thematic sessions in 2023 organised by the migration policy institute Europe (Mpi europe) and the european investment bank (EIB)

Building on the two ad-hoc sessions organised by the Partnership, MPI Europe, in cooperation with the European Investment Bank, will organize four closed-door thematic sessions in 2023 dedicated to the inclusion of displaced Ukrainians under the umbrella of the Urban Agenda Partnership on Inclusion of Migrants and Refugees. The sessions will bring together cities, Member States, EU institutions, and other stakeholders such as civil society actors, international associations, city networks and think tanks.

The first session will focus on access to finance and financial instruments under EU shared management funds, while the second session will be dedicated to short and long-term accommodation.