Maciej Grześkowiak

Maciej Grześkowiak is a researcher at the Centre for Human Rights at the University of Warsaw and the chief coordinator for strategic cooperation at the Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights (Polish Ombudsman). This article reflects solely the author’s own opinions.

‘Temporary protection’ leaves Ukraine refugees in limbo and liable to rightwing backlash
29 September 2025 by Maciej Grześkowiak
In the fourth year of the Ukraine war, the very features of the EU’s “temporary protection” that made it such a convenient instrument for tackling rapid, large-scale displacement can now be seen as flaws. The periodic extension mechanism effectively traps Ukrainian refugees in a perpetually ‘temporary’ situation and leaves them vulnerable to anti-Ukrainian sentiment.
Poland’s ban on asylum — a new low
28 February 2025 by Maciej Grześkowiak
On 21 February, Polish MPs overwhelmingly voted in favour of a mechanism for the suspension of the right to submit asylum applications. The measure is quite clearly at odds with the Polish constitution, international law, and the Common European Asylum System (CEAS). We are witnessing a full-blown rule-of-law crisis at the EU level when it comes to migration and asylum.