An Unconventional Perspective on the Challenges Facing Ukrainian Refugees in the EU and the Outlook for the OECD’s Country Programme for Ukraine.
The active phase of the armed conflict in Ukraine has unfolded for over two years, during which time over 7 million Ukrainian refugees have sought protection in European Union countries. The integration process of Ukrainians into host countries is not always smooth. There are suggestions that Ukrainians are moving to Europe for social benefits without the intention of learning the languages or finding employment. For instance, the reputable publication Focus.de recently reported on such issues. The report suggested that the current system of social benefits in Germany creates improper incentives for migration and calls for a review and harmonization on a European scale.
However, there are alternative viewpoints. In particular, Ukrainian refugees are considered invaluable human capital for Europe, according to Konstantin Kruglov, the founder of the Institute of Psychology and Entrepreneurship (IPE) Kyiv, which focuses on human capital research and the training of professionals in the key areas of this discipline.
Founder of the Institute of Psychology and Entrepreneurship (IPE) Kyiv
“In recent years, Ukraine has faced a series of serious challenges, including military conflict, economic difficulties, and social issues. However, the standard of living in today’s Ukraine is not so catastrophic that people would mass abandon their homes, organized lives, and jobs for the sake of conditional social benefits in Europe. Mostly, mothers with children have left Ukraine to primarily ensure the safety and future of their children. Assuming that millions of Ukrainian refugees are traveling to Europe for social payments is quite reckless,” believes Konstantin Kruglov.
The situation with Ukrainian refugees in the EU has become a challenge for all parties involved, with such developments being impossible to prepare for, and today we are all forced to seek new approaches to adaptation and the transformation of support and integration systems. It’s time to realize that Ukrainians are in Europe for the long haul.
“The social payment system in the EU will inevitably be transformed, and Ukrainian refugees understand this well and will undoubtedly accept the changes. The war has fundamentally changed Ukrainians; now we are a planetary nation. The Ukrainian diaspora now exists in every European city, somewhere it’s just a few families, and somewhere like in Warsaw or Berlin, hundreds of thousands of people. Over three years of war, Ukrainian refugees have invested a lot in learning languages and creating social connections. Most of these people will forever tie their lives to Europe.
Christian faith, a high level of education, and many other factors assist Ukrainians in quickly assimilating and adapting to the customs and peculiarities of the host country. However, language proficiency and competency validation remain key barriers to full integration. We are actively developing a methodological foundation to address these issues, through the initiation of unified European targeted educational programs and communication tools.
Today, a significant portion of Ukrainian migrants are already paying taxes in Europe and sending money to relatives in Ukraine. After the war ends, a mass exodus of Ukrainians should not be expected. European distances allow for comfortably living between two countries. With each passing day, the level of Ukrainian integration into the European system of rules grows, and unlike many other diasporas, this is not associated with any confrontation with the system or obtrusive demonstration of their national identity.
Ukrainian refugees represent invaluable human capital for Europe, focused on the future. The undeniable guarantee of Ukraine’s European development vector lies in Ukrainian children who will receive education in Europe. – Konstantin Kruglov sees the solution to the problem of Ukrainian refugees in education and information.
Before the onset of Russia’s military aggression in 2014, Ukraine’s population exceeded 45 million people, according to the World Bank. The initial wave of conflict and the subsequent full-scale invasion in February 2022 significantly reduced this number. The OECD, the International Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, has been operating in Ukraine for over a year, highlighting Ukrainian demographic challenges in its reports. The Ukrainian government is actively mobilizing to increase the army’s numbers, resorting to rather unpopular measures. There are calls for the forced repatriation of Ukrainian refugees. Ukraine is experiencing a prolonged, systemic human capital crisis..
“When facing difficulties with quantity, it’s sensible to enhance quality. Ukraine’s economic and social development requires competent human capital. I am confident this is the most inclusive way out of the crisis. Social elevators, innovations, increased labor productivity, and management efficiency. Strategic, not tactical steps. Large-scale retraining programs and the development of solutions for efficiency control will allow for much more effective use of financial aid provided by the European Union for Ukraine’s recovery.
Since the beginning of Ukraine’s independence, correct, constructive initiatives and OECD recommendations have been daily met with obstacles related to the peculiarities of Ukrainian human capital. I am convinced that cooperation with the OECD represents a synergy that will define the future of the Ukrainian nation. To quickly realize this potential, it is necessary to train competent specialists aligned with European values.
Human capital capable of designing and implementing economic and social reforms in cooperation with OECD experts for the comprehensive recovery, development, and integration of Ukraine into the global community. I openly offer our platforms for implementing educational programs aimed at the effective preparation of such specialists. We possess the necessary resources and expertise to organize courses, seminars, and workshops focused on strengthening the professional and personal qualities of participants. Our team is open to dialogue with international organizations and local communities to create a sustainable and thriving ecosystem that stimulates the development of all aspects of Ukrainian human capital. Thus, according to Kruglov, with the support of international organizations such as the OECD, Ukraine will emerge from the prolonged human capital crisis and ensure an inclusive path to recovery, development, and full integration of Ukraine into the European and global economic system.
Kruglov’s initiatives align with the theses of the OECD’s Country Programme for Ukraine, as voiced in the “Review of Integrity in Public Education”. They focus on enhancing integrity and transparency within the educational sector, aimed at establishing a fair and trustworthy education system in Ukraine. Such a system is capable of providing the competent human capital necessary for the country’s economic and social development. Certainly, short-term or systematic educational programs are not a panacea for all the issues faced by Ukrainian refugees in the EU and the prospects of the OECD’s Country Programme for Ukraine. However, it undoubtedly represents an unconventional approach, whose implementation will surely enhance predictability and control by improving the quality of professionals involved in these processes. We will return to the discussion on the prospects of Ukrainians in the EU.
Photo by Anastasiia Krutota on Unsplash
