Magnus Lammert
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Hungary to keep granting protection to Ukrainian conscription-age men, defying new EU rules
Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar announced on 3 September that Hungary will continue granting temporary protection or asylum to Ukrainian men of conscription age who flee to Hungary, primarily ethnic Hungarians from Transcarpathia (Zakarpattia). The move defies an EU rule, in force since 5 August, that bars such men from temporary protection if they have problems with their military registration documents. Hungary voted against the EU measure when it was adopted in July alongside an extension of temporary protection for Ukrainians until 4 March 2028. The European Commission said each member state decides for itself and that the regulation leaves some discretion, but added that it had not yet seen any written document from Hungary on which it could comment.