Family migration from non-EU countries forms
around one third of overall migration into the European Union. This portion is
even higher in some Central European countries (Czech Republic, Slovenia). Although
in other Central European countries (Hungary, Slovakia, Poland) the numbers of
family migrants are still relatively low, it is expected that family migration
will become generally more important in this region in the context of restrictive
measures towards labour migration. The policies of family reunification in Central
European countries are generally favourable which is attributed mostly to the
transposition of the EU standards and little national interest in the topic. Migrants
seeking family reunification can expect mainly discretionary procedures and
high costs. Some countries (e.g. Czech Republic) apply minimum age limit for
spouses and sponsors above the majority age. For more information about the
family reunification policies in the CE see the briefing
by Thomas Huddleston.
The family reunification is regulated on both
the EU and national levels. The family migration of third country nationals is governed
by the Family
Reunification Directive, whereas the family reunion of EU citizens who reside
in other EU country is regulated by the Directive
2004/38/EC. Apart from that there is the family migration of EU nationals who
reside in their home country, which is mostly regulated by national
legislation. Due to complex legal framework and ongoing European
debate, the discussion of experts within this topic will limit itself to
the family reunification of third-country nationals in Central European
countries.
More specifically, the expert discussion
within the topic Family reunification focuses on:
the importance of family reunification in
the immigration systems
the strategy behind the countries family
reunification policy
the strengths and weaknesses of the family
reunification policy from the migrants point of view