Netherlands ends ban on family reunification
The Netherlands has suspended a controversial restriction on the rights of recognized refugees to reunite with their immediate families. The change of course came after the highest court in the country ruled on Wednesday that the restriction on the right to family reunification of people with asylum status was unlawful.
The Council of State, which is the highest administrative court in the country, ruled that the restriction on family reunifications was in violation of both Dutch and European law. The decision is therefore regarded as final and binding.
The Ministry of Justice said that about 1,200 people will immediately get to benefit from this and will receive an entry visa as a result of the ruling.
A number of lower courts had already issued rulings earlier, saying that the measure was unlawful and that family reunions should be allowed to continue, but the Dutch government had appealed against those rulings.
For the past few weeks, there was a de facto temporary suspension of the restriction in place, which was intended to last until the Council of State delivered its final decision on Wednesday (February 8). Read More…
