Poland’s government has proposed phasing out emergency assistance programs established for Ukrainian refugees after the start of the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022, citing a more stable situation after four years. “These extraordinary regulations can be phased out and we can move from temporary solutions to systemic ones,” said Adam Szłapka, government spokesman, on Tuesday.
The draft law, now set to go before parliament, frames the original aid as an “emergency, temporary measure” and would remove most special entitlements for social benefits, accommodation, and medical care. Some protections, including procedures to confirm legal residence and identity, will remain in place.
President Karol Nawrocki welcomed the move. He had earlier declared that he would not support any “law concerning special assistance to Ukrainian citizens.”
Public opinion has shifted as well. A January poll by Poland’s Centre for Public Opinion Research found that only 48% of Poles support continuing aid for Ukrainian refugees, while 46% oppose it—the lowest support since 2014.
Business groups expressed concern over potential labour shortages. The Lewiatan Confederation noted that Ukrainian workers make up 66% of the foreign workforce, enabling roughly 1.24 million people to work legally. In 2024, their contribution amounted to 2.7% of Poland’s GDP.
