With over 5,000 participants and almost 300 speakers Cafe Kyiv conference in Berlin was a truly remarkable forum dedicated to freedom, security, and reconstruction, with Ukraine at its center.

Our own Maria Shaidrova was one of the panelists in the session 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭: 𝐋𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐔𝐤𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐠𝐞𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐆𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐄𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞. Some highlights from her responses to moderator’s questions:

🔷 Overall, current participation of Ukrainians in the Dutch labour market is over 50%, which is higher than in most other European countries;

🔷 At the same time, most of the Ukrainian displaced persons (UDPs) are involved in low-qualification and low-income jobs e.g. cleaning services, HoReCa etc;

🔷 Uncertainties regarding the legal status of the UDPs negatively affect their readiness to invest in a more sustainable integration to the Dutch labour market. Similarly, their employers also see that uncertainty as a limiting factor for investing in their employees from Ukraine;

🔷 Our Empatia Program is one of the initiatives which try to address these challenges. Through mentoring, matching and placement services, assistance with diploma recognition, we help psychologists from Ukraine get a job in the Dutch healthcare system: we already employed 50 and there is about 200 in total in our database, ready to be employed;

🔷 𝐀𝐭 𝐚 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐄𝐔 𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥 𝐰𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐔𝐃𝐏𝐬. We need to empower them to contribute more to their host societies now, and to better prepare them to willingly come back home to rebuild Ukraine in future. 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬, 𝐰𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞:

✔️ Legal stability for UDPs: At the panel organized by International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), it was encouraging to hear about discussions in the EU addressing the future beyond TPD expiry in March 2026 incl. vulnerable groups (e.g., elderly).
✔️ Government coordination: Prioritizing job opportunities in sectors vital to both the EU and Ukraine’s reconstruction (e.g., transport, water).
✔️ Upskilling & reskilling: Equipping UDPs for better job integration now and in Ukraine’s future.
✔️ Mobility: Ensuring ability to travel and contribute both in current host countries and Ukraine, transferring skills and experience.

Our data and other studies (e.g. Migration Policy Institute), shows that economic stability, psychological well-being, and confidence increase UDPs’ willingness to return. Empowering them by securing their status and future is key to safe and effective return and dual-intent policies.

Many thanks to Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung for the opportunity to engage in this vital discussion at Café Kyiv!