The Norwegian Ministry of Justice has submitted to the country's parliament a proposal to amend the Immigration Act to extend the period of temporary collective protection for refugees from Ukraine from three to five years. UNN reports this with reference to the press service of the Norwegian government.
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It is noted that the extension of collective protection to five years will give the Norwegian government and parliament more time and alternative options to resolve the situation with Ukrainian refugees.
"The situation in Ukraine remains unresolved, and the possibility of extending the authorization for another two years will give us the flexibility to choose the best solution at any time," said the country's Minister of Justice Emilie Enger Mel.
Permits under the temporary collective protection scheme are issued for one year and can currently be extended for up to three years. In March 2025, the first Ukrainians to arrive in Norway will have temporary collective protection for three years, the maximum number of years provided for by the current legislation.
Future decisions will reportedly take into account processes in other European countries.
In a statement, the Norwegian government said that even if the possibility of granting temporary collective protection is extended, it may still be appropriate to terminate the scheme and switch to regular permits before the end of the five-year period.