Background information

The war in Ukraine, in addition to threatening European and global security and stability, is having serious consequences in all areas, particularly in the economic and social spheres. But beyond the severe economic and energy crisis, the most devastating effect of the war is the profound humanitarian crisis suffered by Ukrainian people. Given the possibility that the European Union may be confronted with a large number of displaced persons as a result of the war, the Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) Council adopted Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/382 of 4 March 2022, noting the existence of a massive influx of displaced persons from Ukraine, with a view to triggering the mechanism of temporary protection.

As a consequence of this context of war, for those persons of Ukrainian origin who are in Spanish territory it is difficult to obtain their birth certificate or criminal record certificate in order to apply for Spanish nationality. This support is additional to other existing support measures within Royal Decree-Law 6/2022 (also described in this database), such as the Refugee Reception Centres for the care of people from Ukraine,read more on the EU PolicyWatch Data Base .

Content of measure

Royal Decree-Law 6/2022 ("National Plan of response to the economic and social consequences of the war in Ukraine") establishes that persons of Ukrainian origin applying for Spanish nationality are exempt from providing birth certificates and criminal records from their country of origin. Persons of Ukrainian origin are thus assimilated to refugees and stateless persons. They will also be exempt from providing this documentation in civil registry procedures for the duration of the conflict (without prejudice to the obligation to provide it in the future). In both cases, a declaration of responsibility must be made by the person concerned with regard to the data that the corresponding certificates would certify.

In addition, a simplified 24-hour procedure has been put in place for obtaining temporary protection (the figure activated by the EU to respond to the Ukrainian exodus). The Spanish government's commitment is that the application will be processed and resolved in a maximum of 24 hours. Temporary protection guarantees residence and work authorisation, financial support, reception resources and access to health and education for a minimum period of one year, extendable to three.

Use of measure

There are no estimated numbers of potential beneficiaries. All persons of Ukrainian origin applying for Spanish protection can benefit from it.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Does not apply to workers	Does not apply to businesses	Migrants or refugees

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government EU (Council, EC, EP)	No special funding required

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	No involvement as case not in social partner domain	No involvement as case not in social partner domain
Form	Not applicable	Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• No involvement
• Main level of involvement: N/A

Involvement

No involvement of social partners.

Views and reactions

Trade unions have expressed their solidarity with the people of Ukraine in numerous statements and rallies. Trade unions CCOO and UGT believe that the Spanish government and the European Union must rise to the occasion and act as this situation requires. Spain and Europe must provide all necessary support to those affected by the war, both in their country of origin and in the place to which they move, ensuring the establishment of humanitarian corridors and developing reception and relocation plans within the EU. Employment opportunities should also be provided to facilitate social integration.

Sources

• 29 March 2022: La Moncloa. Presidency of the Government. Agreements and regulations approved by the Council of Ministers (www.lamoncloa.gob.es)
• 30 March 2022: BOE, Spanish State Official Gazette (Real Decreto-ley 6/2022, de 29 de marzo, por el que se adoptan medidas urgentes en el marco del Plan Nacional de respuesta a las consecuencias económicas y sociales de la guerra en Ucrania) (www.boe.es)