Translated with AI
On April 15, Europe's first Ukrainian Unity Center, Unity Hub Berlin, opened in Berlin to support Ukrainian citizens living abroad due to the war.
According to Denys Ulyutin, Minister of Social Policy, Family, and Unity of Ukraine, the Berlin center will be the first in a network of similar spaces planned to open in other European Union countries, including the Czech Republic and Sweden.
According to him, Germany financed the center's deployment, while Ukraine is responsible for its operational management through the National Unity Agency, which is subordinate to the Ministry of Social Policy. Funding for the agency is provided by the state budget and is aimed at developing the entire network of such centers.
The creation of the center is linked to discussions within the European Union regarding possible changes to the temporary protection mechanism for Ukrainians. If it is abolished, Ukrainian citizens will either have to switch to the national migration regimes of their host countries or decide to return to their home country.
The center is expected to help Ukrainians navigate these conditions. It will provide consultations on pensions, social benefits, and housing in Ukraine, as well as educational and cultural programs for children and adults. Representatives from the Pension Fund of Ukraine, the passport service provider Dokument, and other Ukrainian and international organizations, including IT specialists, will be on hand at the center.
On April 14, German Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt visited the center. He noted that discussions on the future of the temporary protection regime are ongoing at the European level. He stated that Ukraine is interested in the return of its citizens, as a significant portion of the population has left the country in recent years.
The minister also emphasized that many Ukrainians have already integrated into German society and found employment. However, he said, they should retain the option of remaining in Germany or using their acquired skills to rebuild Ukraine.
According to Eurostat, more than 4.3 million Ukrainians are under temporary protection in the European Union, of which approximately 1.2 million live in Germany.
Deputy Minister of Social Policy of Ukraine Ilona Gavronska previously noted that one of the key tasks is reducing uncertainty for citizens considering return. According to her, Ukrainians should understand in advance the conditions they are returning to, including their choice of a specific community and the ability to maintain contact with it.
