Case C-177/08: Reference for a preliminary ruling from the Bundesverwaltungsgericht (Germany) lodged on 29 April 2008 — Khoshnaw Abdullah v Federal Republic of Germany
Date: 2008-04-29
Institutions: Court of Justice
Subjects: foreign national, government violence, interpretation of the law, residence permit, right of asylum

C 197/4

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

2.8.2008

Questions referred

Parties to the main proceedings

1. Is Article 11(1)(e) of Council Directive 2004/83/EC of
29 April 2004 (1) to be interpreted as meaning that — apart
from the second clause of Article 1(C)(5) of the Convention
of 28 July 1951 relating to the Status of Refugees (Geneva
Convention on Refugees) — refugee status ceases to exist if
the refugee's well-founded fear of persecution within the
terms of Article 2(c) of that directive, on the basis of which
refugee status was granted, no longer exists and he also has
no other reason to fear persecution within the terms of
Article 2(c) of Directive 2004/83?

2. If Question 1 is to be answered in the negative: does the
cessation of refugee status under Article 11(1)(e) of Directive
2004/83 also require that,
in the country of the refugee's
nationality,

(a) an actor of protection within the meaning of Article 7(1)
of Directive 2004/83 be present, and is it sufficient in
that regard if protection can be assured only with the
help of multinational troops,

(b) the refugee should not be threatened with serious harm,
within the meaning of Article 15 of Directive 2004/83,
which leads to the granting of subsidiary protection
under Article 18 of that directive, and/or

(c) the security situation be stable and the general
conditions ensure a minimum standard of living?

living

3. In a situation in which the previous circumstances, on the
basis of which the person concerned was granted refugee
status, have ceased to exist, are new, different circumstances
founding persecution to be

(a) measured against the standard of probability applied for
recognising refugee status, or is another standard to be
applied in favour of the person concerned, and/or

(b) assessed having regard to the relaxation of the burden of

proof under Article 4(4) of Directive 2004/83?

(1) OJ 2004 L 304, p. 12.

Reference for a preliminary ruling from the Bundes-
verwaltungsgericht (Germany) lodged on 29 April 2008 —
Khoshnaw Abdullah v Federal Republic of Germany

(Case C-177/08)

(2008/C 197/06)

Language of the case: German

Referring court

Bundesverwaltungsgericht

Applicant: Khoshnaw Abdullah

Defendant: Federal Republic of Germany

Questions referred

1. Is Article 11(1)(e) of Council Directive 2004/83/EC of
29 April 2004 (1) to be interpreted as meaning that — apart
from the second clause of Article 1(C)(5) of the Convention
of 28 July 1951 relating to the Status of Refugees (Geneva
Convention on Refugees) — refugee status ceases to exist if
the refugee's well-founded fear of persecution within the
terms of Article 2(c) of that directive, on the basis of which
refugee status was granted, no longer exists and he also has
no other reason to fear persecution within the terms of
Article 2(c) of Directive 2004/83?

2. If Question 1 is to be answered in the negative: does the
cessation of refugee status under Article 11(1)(e) of Directive
2004/83 also require that,
in the country of the refugee's
nationality,

(a) an actor of protection within the meaning of Article 7(1)
of Directive 2004/83 be present, and is it sufficient in
that regard if protection can be assured only with the
help of multinational troops,

(b) the refugee should not be threatened with serious harm,
within the meaning of Article 15 of Directive 2004/83,
which leads to the granting of subsidiary protection
under Article 18 of that directive, and/or

(c) the security situation be stable and the general
conditions ensure a minimum standard of living?

living

3. In a situation in which the previous circumstances, on the
basis of which the person concerned was granted refugee
status, have ceased to exist, are new, different circumstances
founding persecution to be

(a) measured against the standard of probability applied for
recognising refugee status, or is another standard to be
applied in favour of the person concerned, and/or

(b) assessed having regard to the relaxation of the burden of

proof under Article 4(4) of Directive 2004/83?

(1) OJ 2004 L 304, p. 12.