On the 20th Anniversary of the Family Reunification Directive, this Inform offers a thorough examination of family reunification practices and legislation for beneficiaries of international protection across EMN Member and Observer Countries. It specifically looks at the procedures in place for applying for family reunification and how these have evolved considering recent (since 2017) case law before the European Court of Justice (CJEU), and where relevant the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).

This EMN Inform sheds light on the challenges faced by beneficiaries and applicants for international protection in EMN Member Countries and Serbia as they strive to access autonomous housing. It also provides an overview of the different approaches and strategies employed by these countries to support their access to autonomous housing.

On 24 April 2024, EMN Netherlands and EMN Belgium organised a conference on family reunification with beneficiaries of international protection (in Dutch: “nareis”). The conference was the occasion to launch the EMN Inform on “Family Reunification for Beneficiaries of International Protection”, which was elaborated in light of the 20th anniversary of the Family Reunification Directive.

This conference organised by EMN Netherlands, in cooperation with EMN Belgium, will focus on family reunification of beneficiaries of international protection in EMN Member and Observer Countries. The influence of European case law in this field will also be examined in more detail.