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Summaries of EU Legislation

Recognition of qualifications for Ukrainian refugees

 

SUMMARY OF:

Recommendation (EU) 2022/554 on the recognition of qualifications for people fleeing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE RECOMMENDATION?

It aims to help Ukrainian refugees find a path to meaningful employment and help them integrate by ensuring a quick, fair and flexible process for recognising their qualifications throughout the European Union (EU).

KEY POINTS

The EU has taken a number of steps to help and to show solidarity with refugees fleeing the Russian invasion of Ukraine. These include, in particular:

  • Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/382 introducing temporary protection for Ukrainians, which builds on the minimum EU standards for temporary protection set out in Directive 2001/55/EC on temporary protection (see summary);
  • communications from the European Commission in May 2022 on solidarity and on readying the EU to meet the needs of Ukrainian refugees.

Recognition of qualifications

  • Access to the EU labour market is a key aspect of temporary protection. However, without recognition of their qualifications non-EU nationals often have to take jobs below their qualification level.
  • The Commission’s 2021–2027 action plan on integration and inclusion encourages EU Member States to ensure that procedures for recognising foreign qualifications are quick, fair, transparent and affordable.
  • This recommendation to Member States addresses these issues in respect of Ukraine, covering the following areas:
    • organising recognition of professional qualifications for those enjoying temporary protection;
    • making academic recognition more straightforward;
    • providing information and using electronic tools;
    • dealing with incomplete evidence on qualifications;
    • specific requirements for certain professions;
    • making it easier for recognised professionals to practise;
    • follow-up of proposed measures.

Measures

The recommendation includes a number of key measures taken by the Commission to support Member States, including:

  • a resource hub on Ukrainian qualifications, created by the European Training Foundation, designed to allow comprehensive information sharing and transparency between Member States and thus enable fast track procedures;
  • adapting the eTranslation tool developed by the Commission to meet the demand for quick and reliable translation from Ukrainian and also from Russian;
  • a flexible approach to those not in possession of original documentation – this includes the option of reissuing certificates digitally.

BACKGROUND

For further information, see:

MAIN DOCUMENT

Commission Recommendation (EU) 2022/554 of 5 April 2022 on the recognition of qualifications for people fleeing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine (OJ L 107I, 6.4.2022, pp. 1–8).

RELATED DOCUMENTS

Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the European Council, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions – Welcoming those fleeing war in Ukraine: Readying Europe to meet the needs (COM(2022) 131 final, 23.3.2022).

Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the European Council, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions – European solidarity with refugees and those fleeing war in Ukraine (COM(2022) 107 final, 8.3.2022).

Council Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/382 of 4 March 2022 establishing the existence of a mass influx of displaced persons from Ukraine within the meaning of Article 5 of Directive 2001/55/EC, and having the effect of introducing temporary protection (OJ L 71, 4.3.2022, pp. 1–6).

Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions – Action plan on Integration and Inclusion 2021–2027 (COM(2020) 758 final, 24.11.2020).

Council Directive 2001/55/EC of 20 July 2001 on minimum standards for giving temporary protection in the event of a mass influx of displaced persons and on measures promoting a balance of efforts between Member States in receiving such persons and bearing the consequences thereof (OJ L 212, 7.8.2001, pp. 12–23).

last update 19.07.2022

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