The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) presented the results of a survey on the experience of people who fled Ukraine in the EU to the European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties (LIBE) on Thursday 2 March.
While the FRA survey covers a range of areas, from the availability of information to accommodation, the language barrier is a recurring blocking factor for integration in the host country. For example, less than half of the children who attended school in Ukraine are currently in school, mainly because of the language. The same is true of health care, where access to services is discouraged by the lack of information in a spoken language. The report also notes, in this respect, that 40% of respondents have not attended any language courses since their arrival.
In addition, the report points to pitfalls in the labour market, with forms of exploitation in the workplace reported by 30% of respondents and women out of work due to a lack of childcare facilities. Michael O’Flaherty, Director of the FRA, called for a “highly gendered approach to the welcoming of Ukrainians under the Temporary Protection Directive”.
Finally, the FRA finds that one third of respondents plan to return to Ukraine, one third plan to stay in the EU and one third are undecided. While it is not the role of the Agency to decide who can stay and who cannot, Mr O’Flaherty called on Member States and the EU to address the issue of integration now.
The survey brings together testimonies from 15,000 adults and children aged 12 and over in ten Member States.
To read the report: https://aeur.eu/f/5m8 (Original version in French by Hélène Seynaeve)