BRUSSELS, 29 March 2022, (TON): Ministers met to discuss further coordination of the reception of refugees from Ukraine.

Since 24 February 2022, around 3.8 million people, mainly women and children, have arrived in the European Union after fleeing from the war in Ukraine.

Ministers took stock of the means of material and financial support deployed with regard to both their level and their flexibility.

They discussed possible additional financial needs as well as potential gaps in the support provided by the agencies. Discussions on medium and long-term needs for assistance will now continue at expert level.

Ministers also addressed the implementation of the decision on temporary protection and expressed their support for further coordination of guidance and travel within the EU.

In particular, they called on the Commission, with the assistance of eu-LISA, to act as quickly as possible to seek an IT solution that would allow for a centralised Europe-wide approach to the registration of Ukrainian refugees.

Such consolidation at EU level of registration in national databases will make it easier to protect refugees, and in particular unaccompanied minors, and their travel within the EU.