Ukrainian refugees who plan to go back home after the war could potentially get financial support from European nations.A proposition along these lines has been put forward by Verkhovna Rada lawmaker Oleksiy Honcharuk, the head of migration committeeof the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.Although, it's too early to confirm this as a definite arrangement, it's likely that European countries will offer financial encouragement for Ukrainians to return. The primary concern will revolve around fairness, particularly regarding those who chose to remain in Ukraine during the conflict.
Ukrainians under temporary protection in Europe who opt to return home post-war will get financial aid from those countries. The decision was made by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe's committee on migration and refugees.
‘After conflict cessation, Ukrainians can come back and get financial support from European nations. We're pushing for European countries to step in and aid our internally displaced people too,’ stated Oleksiy Honcharenko, a Verkhovna Rada member who leads the PACE Migration Committee.
He further mentioned that the committee is drafting recommendations for all Council of Europe nations regarding this matter.
Oleksiy Goncharenko did not disclose the exact sum of financial assistance, nor whether it would be a lump sum or monthly installments over a duration.
Incentive for return
The notion of financially ‘motivating’ Ukrainians to return home is not novel. Previously, proposals to offer them financial incentives upon return were disclosed, notably in the Czech Republic, Ireland, Finland, Switzerland, and Norway. At times, it even involved the option of departing the host country before the end of war in Ukraine.
Yet, this marks perhaps the first instance of a pan-European deliberation on providing financial aid to Ukrainian refugees opting to return home.
However, it's worth noting that currently, this is only a decision of the PACE committee. Even if it gets approved by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, it doesn't guarantee support from European countries where Ukrainian refugees are residing.
‘First of all, PACE is not even the European Parliament, and its decisions are merely advisory. So, this doesn't imply automatic implementation of such decisions,’ political expert Vitaliy Kulyk told Apostrophe.
According to him, such decisions should be approved at the level of the European Commission, the European Parliament, and individual EU countries. At the same time, the key issue will be the question of funding sources for such a measure.
In the view of investment banker and financial analyst Serhiy Fursa, 'It's nothing as long as some European countries don't adopt it’.
But if European countries—either all or at least some—do decide to pay our refugees for returning to Ukraine, what could be the rationale behind it?
‘We're discussing resettlement funds for Ukrainian migrants planning to return. It seems this is seen as a motivational initiative to prevent people from returning to a place devoid of employment and prospects,’ Kulyk believes.
However, Serhiy Fursa is convinced that for Ukrainians currently residing in European countries, such payments won't be the primary motivating factor.
‘Ukrainians will stay or leave based on whether their conditions there are favorable or not, and, of course, whether social assistance will continue to be available to them in these countries,’ he emphasized.
Justice is multifaceted and intricate
This scenario also prompts questions regarding justice—Ukrainians returning from abroad will receive financial support, while those who stayed in Ukraine won't. Oleksiy Honcharenko suggested that internally displaced persons might also receive European funds, but this doesn't fully address the justice concern. Many individuals have stayed in cities like Kharkiv, Odesa, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, and Dnipro since the war's outset, enduring enemy attacks nearly daily.
However, the question of justice is very complex and, most likely, does not have a simple solution.
‘If Ukraine was to provide compensation to those returning from Europe, then we could discuss justice. However, I doubt it will happen, and even if it does, Ukraine might not foot the bill. Take Germany, for instance—they will compensate those who were under guardianship of the country all this time. For the German government, this is a chance to alleviate the social burden. This payment serves as a bonus for them—they pay and are relieved of the responsibility,’ Fursa says.
Political scientist Ihor Reiterovych also does not see a simple answer to this question. According to him, people who left Ukraine for other countries fell under the responsibility of these countries.
‘We understand perfectly well that if, hypothetically, 2 million Syrians were to flee to the EU, Europe wouldn't be paying money to Syrians who stayed back in Syria. So here, the issue is more about legality than justice,’ the expert stresses.
‘It's evident that Ukrainians who remained may not appreciate this situation as much, but ultimately, it's a matter of personal choice. Some might argue that those who stayed in Ukraineю live in their own apartments, have stable work, and can be with their children. Meanwhile, among those who migrated to Europe, many lost their homes in Ukraine and have nowhere to return to’, Reiterovych says.
To satisfy everyone
That's why, as Ihor Reiterovych suggests, the proposition to pay Ukrainians to return home shouldn't be seen solely through the lens of justice, but rather as a means to assist our refugees to the fullest extent possible. He mentioned that once the war concludes, Ukraine, along with the countries hosting Ukrainian refugees, will encourage their return.
Furthermore, it's important to recognize that not every European country is keen on Ukrainians leaving:
‘Some countries rely so heavily on our workforce that they will actually resist any efforts to encourage Ukrainians to come back home —they would prefer them to stay and continue working,’ the expert stresses.
In turn, Vitaliy Kulyk offers his vision for addressing the issue of ensuring justice.
‘One of the possibilities for this, from my point of view, is the implementation of the idea of a citizen of Ukraine receiving his share from the exploitation of common property on a personal bank card,’the expert proposes.
‘We can say that this is a Ukrainian version of unconditional income. And this should apply to those who remained - then there will be justice. We associate ourselves with this land, with this country, we stayed here in a difficult time and we have the right to such a share. Those who left will receive help from the European Union,’ he believes.
Kulyk specified that these payments should be financed through royalty payments. After all, the Ukrainian people are co-owners of natural resources and other assets of the national wealth according to Article 13 of the Ukrainian Constitution.
‘The land, its subsoil, atmospheric air, water, and other natural resources within the territory of Ukraine, as well as the natural resources of its continental shelf and exclusive (maritime) economic zone, are objects of property rights of the Ukrainian people,’ concluded the expert.
Well, let's hope that Ukrainian state won't overlook those who stayed in the country.
