Key challenges & policy options on right to family reunification of beneficiaries of international protection

Last week MPG’s Legal Policy Analyst Dr. Carmine Conte presented his insights on key challenges and policy options regarding the right to family reunification of beneficiaries of international protection at the University of Utrecht.

Several obstacles to family reunification exist. Such as the fact that beneficiaries of subsidiary protection have more limited access to family reunification in comparison to refugees. There is also the restrictive concept of what constitutes a family member that is keeping people from being reunited with loved ones. Lastly, there is a lack of measures to facilitate the right to reunification of vulnerable groups, such as unaccompanied minors.

Policymakers should therefore avoid discrimination between refugees and beneficiaries of international protection, expand the definition of family members eligible for reunification, pay particular attention to vulnerable groups and waive demanding documentation and integration requirements.

Read more about MPG’s recommendations on family reunification in the latest publication of the National Integration Evaluation Mechanism.

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