Upholding the right to family reunification for beneficiaries of international protection in Europe
For people who flee persecution, armed conflict or other situations of human rights violations and are forced to leave their family behind, family reunification is often the only way to enjoy family life once they reach safety. Despite the EU legal and policy framework and more than 20 years of implementing the EU Family Reunification Directive, reuniting family members of beneficiaries of international protection in Europe remains difficult and lengthy in practice due to various legal, practical and administrative obstacles. Recent developments across Europe have further restricted the right to family reunification.
National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in Europe provide various services to separated families of beneficiaries of international protection. Beyond restoring and maintaining contact between family members, they may offer legal and administrative assistance throughout the family reunification procedure, including travel arrangements and support to reunited families to integrate smoothly in their new communities.
Recommendations
National Societies witness first-hand the reality of family reunification of beneficiaries of international protection in Europe and the negative impacts of family separation, both on them and their family members left behind. They thus make the following recommendations to EU Member States which are subject to the EU Family Reunification Directive and other European countries that have adopted similar laws to ensure that beneficiaries of international protection can effectively access and exercise their right to family reunification.
- Ensure that all beneficiaries of international protection benefit from the right to family reunification.
- Expand the scope of family members eligible for family reunification.
- Lift any administrative and practical barriers to ensure that beneficiaries of international protection and their family members can effectively exercise their right to family reunification.
- Ensure that applications for family reunification are dealt with promptly and that the assessment of family links does not further impede the family reunification process.
- Ensure that reunited families in Europe are adequately supported in their new life.
