More than four years after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Europe is entering a new phase of its response to the resulting displacement. While temporary protection continues to provide an essential legal framework for millions of displaced people, attention is increasingly shifting towards what should follow. Across the Central EuropeanInitiative region, governments are beginning to consider longer-term legal solutions, yet transition planning remains uneven, fragmented and, in many cases, still at an early stage or absent.

Based on a comparative analysis of legal and policy frameworks, key informant interviews and consultations with civil society organisations, this paper examines how 17 Member States across Central, Eastern, and South-Eastern Europe are preparing for the transition out of temporary protection. 

The paper identifies common challenges across the region, including limited coordination, insufficient data and evidence for planning, legal and administrative barriers, shrinking support services and weak links between transition planning, return and Ukraine's recovery. It concludes that the current state of play risks generating prolonged uncertainty for people displaced from Ukraine. An effective transition requires a predictable and inclusive approach that preserves legal certainty, safeguards rights and expands durable solutions for people displaced from Ukraine. The paper sets out key considerations for policy, advocacy and response to support an effective transition. 

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