Legal right to family reunion may pose problems to immigrants and certain states. The Migrant Integration Policy Index III (MIPEX III) shows that immigrants have started to bring evidence to national courts of law and to the European Court of Justice regarding the conditions which do not favor the family reunion.

An example is the Chakroun case in Holland, a country which is 19th out of 31 participant countries, regarding family reunion. This study was done by MIPEX III. Holland and Lithuania are below the European average, whose score is 60 (between 60-79 – somewhat favorable).

Romania takes the 14th place, as Estonia, obtaining 65 points. The 31st place is occupied by Ireland with a 34 score, which is somewhat unfavorable (21-40), and Portugal takes the 1st place with 91 out of 100 possible points, being thus favorable when it comes to family reunion. „Since 2007, few things have changed for non-EU families who reunite in Europe, their future being uncertain. The procedures have become more favorable in 5 countries, but less favorable in 11. The countries (recently Greece, Luxemburg, Spain) now grant basic rights and safety of residence, often to abide by EU legislation”, shows the MIPEX III.

The legislation MIPEX III refers to is the 2003/86/CE Directive, which contains minimum standards. Among the countries who subscribe to these standards and even adopt favorable policies, we have Belgium, Portugal, Sweden, which were in top 10 even in MIPEX II, not just in MIPEX III.

As far as Romania is concerned, it is better prepared than other states from the region when it comes to immigrant families. As a matter of fact, most foreigners who came into our country through family reunion are the partners of foreign citizens already working, studying or doing business in Romania. On the MIPEX III scale, Romania is number 14 regarding family reunion polices. It is number 11 in mobility on the labor market and in terms of anti-discrimination policies.

Source: Migrant Integration Policy Index III – www.mipex.eu