Judgment;Summary — ECLI:EU:C:2022:617
Date: 2022-08-01
Language of the case: German
Court formation: Third Chamber
Subject matter: Asylum policy;Justice and home affairs;Area of freedom, security and justice
Procedure: Reference for a preliminary ruling
Origin: Germany

Request for a preliminary ruling from the Bundesverwaltungsgericht (Germany) lodged on 22 June 2020 – Bundesrepublik Deutschland v SW (Case C-273/20) Language of the case: German Referring court Bundesverwaltungsgericht Parties to the main proceedings Appellant in the appeal on a point of law: Bundesrepublik Deutschland Respondent in the appeal on a point of law: SW Joined party: Stadt Darmstadt Questions referred (a) In the case of subsequent immigration in order to join an unaccompanied minor refugee in accordance with Article 10(3)(a) and Article 2(f) of Directive 2003/86/EC, 1 can the continued existence of the refugee’s minority be a ‘condition’ within the meaning of Article 16(1)(a) of Directive 2003/86? Is legislation of a Member State under which parents who immigrated subsequently to join an unaccompanied minor refugee for the purposes of Article 2(f) of Directive 2003/86 are granted a (derived) right of residence in the Member State only for as long as the refugee is actually still a minor compatible with the aforesaid provisions? (b) If the questions in 1(a) are answered in the affirmative: Is Article 16(1)(a), read in conjunction with Article 10(3)(a) and Article 2(f), of Directive 2003/86 to be interpreted as meaning that a Member State under whose legislation the parents’ (derived) right of residence is limited to the period up until when the child comes of age is allowed to reject an application for entry and residence for the purpose of family reunification submitted by parents still resident in a third country if the refugee has come of age before the adoption of a final decision, in administrative or court proceedings, on an application lodged within three months of recognition of the child’s refugee status? If the answer to Question 1 is that it is not permissible to refuse family reunification: What requirements are to be imposed in terms of a real family relationship within the meaning of Article 16(1)(b) of Directive 2003/86 in cases of subsequent immigration of parents to join a refugee who comes of age before a decision is adopted on the application for entry and residence for the purposes of family reunification? In particular: (a) Does a first-degree relationship in the direct ascending line suffice (Article 10(3)(a) of Directive 2003/86) or is a real family life also necessary? (b) If a real family life is also necessary: How close must it be? For example, do occasional or regular visits suffice, must the family cohabit in a single household or must they also be part of a support unit whose members are reliant upon one another? (c) For the subsequent immigration of parents who are still in a third country and who have submitted an application for family reunification to join a child with recognised refugee status who has since come of age, must there be the expectation that, following their entry, family life will be (re-)established in the Member State in the manner required in Question 2(b)? ____________ 1 Council Directive 2003/86/EC of 22 September 2003 on the right to family reunification (OJ 2003 L 251, p. 12).