The Netherlands may stop providing accommodation to third country nationals who were living in Ukraine before the Russian invasion, the European Court of Justice’s advocate general said on Tuesday.

Some 2,500 third-party nationals, often students, workers or people married to Ukrainians, came to the Netherlands and a mishmash of conflicting legal decisions had led to confusion about what rights they have to stay.

The foreign students and workers who were in Ukraine before the invasion had been ordered to go home, but many had challenged the Dutch government’s position in court.

The highest Dutch court, the Council of State, then referred the issue to the European court for its view. The advocate general has now given his opinion, which the court usually adopts, but not always.

Until the formal ruling, third country nationals will continue to have the same rights as Ukrainians.