Policy Paper - Family Reunification: a right, not a privilege

The right to family life is ensrhrined in European and international law, recognising how it is central to the human dignity of every person and a prerequisite for successful integration.

Yet across Europe, this right is increasingly under threat. Restrictive migration policies are undermining the right to family unity, as several countries have introduced stricter conditions since 2015, including the suspension of family reunification or the imposition of multi-year waiting periods for beneficiaries of international protection. This trend has intensified in recent years, making access to reunification nearly impossible for certain groups, with devastating consequences for individuals, children, and integration outcomes.

Even where no legal restrictions apply, family reunification remains extremely difficult in practice. Complex bureaucratic procedures, stringent documentary requirements, and disproportionate costs delay or prevent families from reuniting for years.