Czech Interior Minister Lubomír Metnar has called for a debate on tightening conditions for Ukrainian refugees, warning that around 6,000 new arrivals are still entering Czechia every month.
Speaking after a meeting on Wednesday with his German counterpart Alexander Dobrindt, Metnar said Prague believes it is time to reconsider the scope of temporary protection. According to Interior Ministry spokeswoman Ivana Nguyenová, the Czech side informed Germany that “it is necessary to open a debate on adjusting the further setting of temporary protection.”
She added that the Czech Republic considers it necessary to examine “limiting its scope, for example in terms of geographical origin or other criteria,” while stressing the need for coordination with other states.
As reported by Echo24, 612,953 Ukrainians with registered residence were living in the Czech Republic at the end of last year, according to Interior Ministry data. The figure represents an increase of 37,000 compared to the previous year. Ukrainians now account for more than half of all foreigners in the country. In total, 1,131,197 foreigners with residence permits were living legally in the Czech Republic, representing 10.38 percent of the population. Ukrainian citizens make up 54 percent of that group, followed by Slovaks, Vietnamese, and Russians.
The number of people under temporary protection in connection with the war in Ukraine stood at 400,083 as of Monday midnight, surpassing the 400,000 mark for the first time since 2023. Officials say the increase accelerated last autumn after Ukraine relaxed travel restrictions for men aged 18 to 22.
According to sources cited by Echo24, there is also discussion within government circles about aligning stricter conditions with the wishes of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has expressed interest in seeing as many Ukrainians as possible return home once the war ends.
At the same time, Metnar has announced plans for tougher measures against foreign nationals who commit crimes. A new bill on the residence of foreigners aims to strengthen the state’s ability to revoke residence permits for criminals and improve oversight of who is present in the country. “There is no complete overview of who we have here, foreigners in general, so we are introducing a mandatory registration from the voluntary registration of EU citizens,” Metnar said.
He added that the government’s objective is to establish “clear, understandable, and enforceable rules that will protect the safety of citizens and ensure a fair and functional system for those residing in the Czech Republic.”
