Ukrainian Women's Diaspora Forum in EU Parliament Addresses Refugee Future

The third «Power. Voice. Legacy» forum, organized by the European Association of Ukrainian Women (EAUW) and hosted by Polish MEP Krzysztof Brejza, opens on May 11 at the European Parliament. It will address the future of 4.4 million Ukrainian refugees as the EU prepares to end temporary protection in March 2027. The forum takes place across three venues: the Ukrainian Civil Society Hub, the Zweig Visitor Centre, and the European Parliament.

Nine panels will cover topics including gender policy, cultural diplomacy, veterans’ reintegration, human rights, education, and entrepreneurship. Around 100 participants, including Ukrainian and European officials, diplomats, entrepreneurs, veterans, and academics, are expected. Organizers plan to release a public «EAUW Women’s Statement» at the close.

As of January 2026, 4.4 million Ukrainians were covered by the EU's protection regime, which was extended in June 2025 until March 4, 2027. A September 2025 coordinated phase-out plan aims to transition refugees to national residence permits or voluntary returns. A 2025 LSE Growth Lab report, based on late-2024 surveys, found only 43% of refugees would return after the war. Poland hosts almost one million Ukrainian refugees, the second-highest number after Germany. EAUW founder Violetta Dvornikova, who led the civilian evacuation of Irpin in 2022, now heads the Ukrainian Civil Society Hub at the European Parliament.