Governing the (im)mobility of fleeing Ukrainians and Russians in Denmark and Poland

Denny Pencheva; Kamilla Engebretsen; Aleksandra Ruhan

This report explores the migration policies and practices of Denmark and Poland concerning displaced Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion of Ukraine and Russians migrating during the same period. Centered around the Temporary Protection Directive (TPD), the document examines the legal frameworks and their implementation, comparing Denmark’s restrictive policies and Poland’s more accommodating stance. The analysis highlights issues such as Euroscepticism, unequal treatment of asylum seekers, labour market integration, administrative challenges, and the implications of temporary protection policies. It also delves into the challenges faced by Russian nationals due to restrictive EU and national mobility regimes. The findings offer critical reflections and policy recommendations for the EU and national policymakers on migration governance and the future of temporary protection frameworks.

poland asylum seekers denmark migration policy euroscepticism ukraine conflict migration governance ukrainian refugees administrative challenges russian migration labour market integration temporary protection directive