European Union – Immigration. Council Directive (EC) 2003/86

European Union – Immigration.

Council Directive (EC) 2003/86 should be interpreted as precluding national legislation under which, in the absence of a decision being adopted within  six months of the date on which the application for family reunification had been lodged, the competent national authorities should automatically issue a residence permit to the applicant, without necessarily having to establish in advance that the latter actually met the requirements for residence in the host member state in accordance with EU law. The Court of Justice of the European Union so held in a preliminary ruling in proceedings concerning Belgium’s rejection of the applicant’s application for the issue of a visa for family reunification.

The judgment is available at: C-706/18