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A Liberal Paradox: Expanding Rights, Reducing Access? Contemporary Patterns of Family Migration Policies in the EU

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Migration, Familie und Gesellschaft

Abstract

In the past decade or so, family-related migration has moved to the centre of debates on migration, integration and multiculturalism in Europe. Its quantitative significance and the related perception that family-related migration undermines migration control is one reason for this attention paid to it.

This paper is based on a two-year research project on family migration policies in nine European countries, funded by the Austrian Ministry of Science and Research (‘Civic Stratification, Gender and Family Migration Policies in Europe’, see http://research.icmpd.org/1445.htm). A draft was presented at the SF Exploratory Workshop “In/Equality for Third Country Nationals: Implementation and Effects of EU Directives on Migration and Asylum”, Oxford, 28–30 June 2010.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    These are Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Denmark, Spain, France, Italy, the Netherlands and the UK.

  2. 2.

    If only permanent migration is taken into account, then family-related migration has indeed been the main entry into France since 1975, far outstripping labour migration (see OECD 2009, p. 47).

  3. 3.

    While Article 12 of the European Convention on the Legal Status of Migrant Workers (ETS No. 93 of 1977) establishes a right to family reunion, the personal scope of the Convention is limited to nationals of signatory states and thus does not establish a universal right to family reunification.

  4. 4.

    COM (2000) 757 final.

  5. 5.

    Council Regulation EEC 1612/68 on the freedom of movement for workers within the Community. See also Council Directive 68/360/EEC of 15 October 1968 on the abolition of restrictions on movement and residence within the Community for workers of member states and their families.

  6. 6.

    Cf. Article Council Directive 2003/109/EC.

  7. 7.

    See Council Directive 2005/71/EC on a specific procedure for admitting third country nationals for the purposes of scientific research.

  8. 8.

    Council Directive 2009/50/EC of 25 May 2009 on the conditions of entry and residence of third-country nationals for the purposes of highly qualified employment.

  9. 9.

    Council Directive 2003/109/EC of 25 November 2003 concerning the status of third country nationals who are long-term residents.

  10. 10.

    Rights enjoyed by beneficiaries of the directive may only be suspended on serious grounds of public policy or in case of grave violations of the law.

  11. 11.

    See Council of the European Union, 2618th Council Meeting, Justice and Home Affairs, 19 November 2004.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. International Centre for Migration Policy Development, Gonzagagasse 1, 1010, Wien, Austria

    Albert Kraler

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  1. Albert Kraler
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Correspondence to Albert Kraler .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institut Integration und Partizipation, Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz Hochschule für Soziale Arbeit, Olten, Switzerland

    Thomas Geisen

  2. Hochschule für Soziale Arbeit, Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz, Olten, Switzerland

    Tobias Studer

  3. Universität Klagenfurt, Klagenfurt, Austria

    Erol Yildiz

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Kraler, A. (2014). A Liberal Paradox: Expanding Rights, Reducing Access? Contemporary Patterns of Family Migration Policies in the EU. In: Geisen, T., Studer, T., Yildiz, E. (eds) Migration, Familie und Gesellschaft. Springer VS, Wiesbaden. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-531-94126-4_19

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