Spain to take in Ukrainian refugees and send troops to Latvia
The Spanish government confirmed Tuesday it will allow in Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion, allowing them to access employment in Spain, as well as send another 150 troops to Latvia as part of a Nato buildup in the region.
Government spokeswoman Isabel Rodríguez said Ukrainian refugees would be "full citizens" from the moment they arrived in Spain, notably "in terms of access to employment".
The European Union is mulling giving Ukrainians special status under an as yet unused 2001 Temporary Protection Directive that would allow them to live and work in the bloc for up to three years.
The directive was originally drawn up for refugees from the conflicts gripping the former Yugoslavia, with provisions for handling a massive inflow of people and measures to distribute them across the EU's member states.
READ ALSO:
- How Spain’s economy could be affected by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
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For the tool to be used, though, a qualified majority of EU states -- 15 of the 27, representing at least 65 percent of the bloc's population -- need to back it.
Rodríguez also said the right to "live and work" in Spain for those Ukrainians already here was "guaranteed".
There are around 112,000 Ukrainians currently living in Spain, according to the INE national statistics office.
Separately, the defence ministry said Spain will send 150 additional troops to Latvia, who will join the 350 Spanish troops already there.
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Government spokeswoman Isabel Rodríguez said Ukrainian refugees would be "full citizens" from the moment they arrived in Spain, notably "in terms of access to employment".
The European Union is mulling giving Ukrainians special status under an as yet unused 2001 Temporary Protection Directive that would allow them to live and work in the bloc for up to three years.
The directive was originally drawn up for refugees from the conflicts gripping the former Yugoslavia, with provisions for handling a massive inflow of people and measures to distribute them across the EU's member states.
READ ALSO:
- How Spain’s economy could be affected by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
- Flight bans to visas – what does the EU’s Ukraine response mean for Spain?
For the tool to be used, though, a qualified majority of EU states -- 15 of the 27, representing at least 65 percent of the bloc's population -- need to back it.
Rodríguez also said the right to "live and work" in Spain for those Ukrainians already here was "guaranteed".
There are around 112,000 Ukrainians currently living in Spain, according to the INE national statistics office.
Separately, the defence ministry said Spain will send 150 additional troops to Latvia, who will join the 350 Spanish troops already there.
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