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Family Reunification for “Paperless” Eritrean Refugees: a Pie in the Sky or a Realisable Right?

Arapiles, Sara LU and Mekonnen, Daniel (2024)
Abstract
Family reunification is, in the words of the European Union (EU) Family Reunification Directive (2003/86/EC), a ‘necessary way of making family life possible’ and preserving family unity. Yet, barriers exist which hinder refugees’ realisation of their right to family reunification. By taking the plight of Eritrean refugees in Europe as a pertinent case study, this paper shows the obstacles that “paperless” refugees face in their pursuit for family reunification. This calls for consideration of ‘other’ evidentiary standards when refugees are unable to provide official documentary evidence that establishes the existence of a family relationship. In substantiating this argument, this chapter relies on a 2019 judgement of the Court of Justice... (More)
Family reunification is, in the words of the European Union (EU) Family Reunification Directive (2003/86/EC), a ‘necessary way of making family life possible’ and preserving family unity. Yet, barriers exist which hinder refugees’ realisation of their right to family reunification. By taking the plight of Eritrean refugees in Europe as a pertinent case study, this paper shows the obstacles that “paperless” refugees face in their pursuit for family reunification. This calls for consideration of ‘other’ evidentiary standards when refugees are unable to provide official documentary evidence that establishes the existence of a family relationship. In substantiating this argument, this chapter relies on a 2019 judgement of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) – E. v. Staatssecretaris van Veiligheid en Justitie – which cautions EU Member States to take into account other considerations when documentary evidence is lacking or cannot be obtained. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Mänskliga rättigheter, Human rights, Paperless refugees, Family reunification, Eritrea, Europe
host publication
Family Reunification in Europe: Exposing Inequalities
editor
Desmet, Ellen ; Belloni, Milena ; Verhellen, Jinske ; Vanheule, Dirk and Güdük, Ayse
publisher
Routledge
external identifiers
  • scopus:85210673838
ISBN
9781003503217
DOI
10.4324/9781003503217-16
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
49021ae5-51c3-420e-892a-4e26bdb8821e
date added to LUP
2024-04-17 09:57:30
date last changed
2025-06-20 10:25:29
@inbook{49021ae5-51c3-420e-892a-4e26bdb8821e,
  abstract     = {{Family reunification is, in the words of the European Union (EU) Family Reunification Directive (2003/86/EC), a ‘necessary way of making family life possible’ and preserving family unity. Yet, barriers exist which hinder refugees’ realisation of their right to family reunification. By taking the plight of Eritrean refugees in Europe as a pertinent case study, this paper shows the obstacles that “paperless” refugees face in their pursuit for family reunification. This calls for consideration of ‘other’ evidentiary standards when refugees are unable to provide official documentary evidence that establishes the existence of a family relationship. In substantiating this argument, this chapter relies on a 2019 judgement of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) – E. v. Staatssecretaris van Veiligheid en Justitie – which cautions EU Member States to take into account other considerations when documentary evidence is lacking or cannot be obtained.}},
  author       = {{Arapiles, Sara and Mekonnen, Daniel}},
  booktitle    = {{Family Reunification in Europe: Exposing Inequalities}},
  editor       = {{Desmet, Ellen and Belloni, Milena and Verhellen, Jinske and Vanheule, Dirk and Güdük, Ayse}},
  isbn         = {{9781003503217}},
  keywords     = {{Mänskliga rättigheter; Human rights; Paperless refugees; Family reunification; Eritrea; Europe}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{07}},
  publisher    = {{Routledge}},
  title        = {{Family Reunification for “Paperless” Eritrean Refugees: a Pie in the Sky or a Realisable Right?}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.4324/9781003503217-16}},
  doi          = {{10.4324/9781003503217-16}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}