Briefing - Family reunification rights: Refugees and beneficiaries of subsidiary protection - 28-04-2025
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Separating family members can have devastating consequences on their wellbeing and ability to rebuild their lives. This is true for everybody, but especially so for people who have fled persecution or serious harm and have lost family during forced displacemeBriefing - Family reunification rights: Refugees and beneficiaries of subsidiary protection - 28-04-2025
Separating family members can have devastating consequences on their wellbeing and ability to rebuild their lives. This is true for everybody, but especially so for people who have fled persecution or serious harm and have lost family during forced displacement and their flight from danger. For beneficiaries of international protection, family separation can affect their ability to engage in many aspects of the integration process, from education and employment to putting down roots, and harm their physical and emotional health. Family reunification is therefore a fundamental aspect of bringing normality to the lives of such people. While European Union law ensures refugees and holders of subsidiary protection – the two types of beneficiaries of international protection – equal treatment in most areas, differences persist regarding family reunification under the Family Reunification Directive, among other things. After 2015, most EU Member States witnessed a significant increase in the number of asylum-seekers arriving in their territory, with a parallel increase in the number of beneficiaries of international protection seeking reunification with their families. To establish some form of control over this unprecedented flow of people, Member States shifted away from awarding refugee status towards granting subsidiary protection, thus restricting the possibility for beneficiaries to reunite with their families. In March 2025, certain EU countries announced restrictions on the right to family reunification for migrants. According to many legal experts, beneficiaries of subsidiary protection face stricter requirements regarding family reunification than refugees, which disregards the particular circumstances related to their forced displacement and the corresponding difficulties they are likely to face in meeting these stricter requirements. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP Read more