Europe launches sensitive debate on family migration laws

(BRUSSELS) - The European Union launched a debate Tuesday on whether to change laws on bringing migrant families back together, a sensitive issue in a continent facing an economic crisis and rising populism.

The EU's executive Commission opened a public consultation to sound out governments, civil society, non-EU countries and migrants, and determine if new legislation is needed.

"Family reunification gives immigrants the possibility to have a family life and helps their integration into society," said EU home affairs commissioner Cecilia Malmstroem.

"I hope that all stakeholders will participate in the consultation, and share their experiences and opinions on how to have more effective rules on family reunification," she said.

Malmstroem called on EU states to "outline and quantify the problems they claim to have with abuse of the current rules".

The Dutch government is the only state to have explicitly asked for changes in the rules in place since 2003, said a European source close to the matter. "The Dutch are very active on this issue," the source said.

The far-right Party for Freedom (PVV) in the Netherlands gives parliamentary support to a right-leaning minority coalition, in exchange for a say in policy making.

France, facing a presidential election in May 2012, Germany and Austria also lean towards stricter rules on allowing migrants to join family members living legally in an EU nation, the European source said.

The rules allow a foreigner to enter and reside in the EU if a family member has lived for one year or more in an EU state with "reasonable prospects of obtaining the right of permanent residence."

EU governments can impose other conditions, such as making migrants prove they have sufficient resources, adequate accommodation and health insurance.

In 2010, permits for family reunification represented 21 percent of overall permits handed out of migrants, or 500,000 people, the commission said.

The commission said the consultation aims to answer several questions, such as how to best define the migrants who benefit from the rules, how to tackle fake marriages, and whether safeguards are needed to foster integration.

The public consultation closes in March 2012.

Consultation on the the right to family 
reunification of third-country nationals 
living in the EU - guide