BackMany refugees and migrants keep arriving in Europe where they make their home and try to integrate into host societies. They often travel alone, hoping to soon be joined by family members left behind, often in unsafe conditions.
Family reunification is considered by asylum seekers as a much higher priority, compared with access to health services, housing and employment, as a factor in ensuring their full and successful integration.
This right is therefore rightly emphasised in the European Convention on Human Rights and in the Dublin Regulation. To respect family life and to allow family members to be brought together, the reunification policies and practices should be efficient and use justified and flexible criteria.
The Commissioner for Human Rights’ publication Realising the right to family reunification of refugees in Europe contains 36 recommendations, an overview of European Court of Human Rights case-law, relevant EU legislation as well as restrictive practices in some Council of Europe states.
Hard copies in English and French may also be requested via email.
Source: Directorate of Communications, Council of Europe
