“We have 800 Ukrainians who arrived on French soil“since the beginning of the war in Ukraine,”sometimes to be in transit to Spain or to England“, indicated Gérald Darmanin, Minister of the Interior, this Thursday on France Inter.France will play its full part” in the reception of refugees, he assured.
This represents “few people, there is not a large Ukrainian community in France. 17,000 Ukrainians have a residence permit, for example, there are large communities elsewhere in Europe“, advances Gérald Darmanin, who announces that he will now bring together the prefects of France every week to “organize this reception.” It evokes “the difficulty of Britain’s exit from Schengen“, which results in “less continuity with Great Britain“, with the case of a family of nine Ukrainians stranded at the port of Calais for 48 hours, “because they are refused a visa“.
According to him, the British minister “will set up a kind of consulate in Calais to allow Ukrainians to be able to join their families in Great Britain, in accordance with the words of Boris Johnson“. He argues that “several dozen Ukrainians have already presented themselves since yesterday in Calais, or in front of the tunnel and the port.”
“A form of asylum, very quickly triggered”
While a new Council of Interior Ministers is being held this Thursday in Brussels, the agenda will focus on a directive from 2001, “who had already served for Kosovo“. It’s about a “temporary protection for Ukrainians”“a form of asylum, very quickly triggered“, valid “for six months, renewable up to three years“. This temporary protection will make it possible in particular to “offer them benefits, material aid.”
“There is no difference“between the Ukrainian refugees and the others, says Gérald Darmanin.”Asylum is constitutional, France defends it in Europe and in its country, provided that it is related to a situation of war or persecution“, he also says. “Everyone who comes from Ukraine will be welcomed in Europe“, without distinction between the origins of Ukrainians, promises the Minister of the Interior.