| Documentation Database: | Questionnaires: Family Reunification Directive 2003/86/EC Cyprus |
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| Subject | Comparative study on the implementation of the Family Reunification Directive 2003/86/EC in (25) Member States | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Data from other countries | Go to Questionnaire (with links to the answers of all other countries) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| This Form | Data by Cyprus (03/10/2006) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| A. General | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| A.1 | top Q: Has the Directive been implemented in your country? If so, please add the references and the texts of relevant legislative and administrative measures and the dates they entered into force. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| answer Cyprus | A: No, it has not been implemented yet in the Republic of Cyprus. The relevant Bill is pending before the Parliamentary Committee of Internal Affairs at the House of Representatives.
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| Answers on this question by other countries:
AUS BEL CYP CZE DEN EST FIN FRA GFR GRE HUN IRE ITA LAT LIT LUX MAL NET POL POR SVK SVN SPA SWE GBR |
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| A.2 | top Q: Has there been a political or public debate on the implementation of the Directive? If so, please summarize the main issues of the debate. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| answer Cyprus | A: There has been some public debate on the implementation of the Directive in the context of the parliamentary procedure currently in process at the House of Representatives. However, due to the fact the Bill under discussion is transposing both the Long Term Residence Directive (Council Directive 2003/109/EC) and the Family Reunification Directive, the debate has been mainly restricted on the Long Term Residence Directive for the time being.
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AUS BEL CYP CZE DEN EST FIN FRA GFR GRE HUN IRE ITA LAT LIT LUX MAL NET POL POR SVK SVN SPA SWE GBR |
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| A.3 | top Q: What have been the main changes in the national law or practice due to the Directive. Please indicate for each change whether it improved or deteriorated the legal status of third country nationals and their family members? Did it make the national rules more strict or more liberal? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| answer Cyprus | A: Even though the transposition of the Directive has been delayed and, therefore, the unconditional provisions of the Directive could produce direct effect, according to the ECJ case law from October 2005 onwards, the administration does not implement the Directive at all and there have not been any cases brought before the Courts as yet on the basis of the direct effect of the Directive.
Based on the provisions of the Bill currently pending before the House of Representatives, which however is not final, it may be assumed that, on the one hand, the Directive will improve the legal status of certain categories of third country nationals and their family members in some aspects, while, on the other, it will deteriorate it on other. The majority of third country nationals however will not be able to benefit from it due to the migration policies followed. It has to be noted that according to the current legal framework third country nationals were entitled to rights of family reunification only if they were holders of a residence permit of over five years. This in practice means that only third country nationals working at the sector of the so-called ”international companies” and those with a permanent migration permit (which are very few) are entitled to those rights. [Migration permits are permanent permits which may be granted to any third country national irrespective of years of residence in Cyprus. However, in practice, these are granted mainly to pensioners or to people with secured income, mainly Europeans who are not allowed to work.] Third country nationals in general are only entitled to yearly, renewable residence and work permits up to four years maximum, with some exceptions to the rule to serve the economic and social interests of Cyprus. [According to the last decision of the Ministerial Committee on Employment of May 2005, all migrant workers are only entitled to remain in Cyprus for a maximum period of four years, after which they have to return to their country of origin and be replaced by other migrant workers. The only exception to this rule are those third country nationals working in the international companies and the Directors/shareholders of Cypriot companies with foreign investments as well as, in exceptional circumstances and for humanitarian reasons, domestic workers who work with old age people, or in houses with children with special needs or health problems.] |
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| A.4 | top Q: Are there already judgments of national courts applying or interpreting the Directive? If so on which issues? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| answer Cyprus | A: No.
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AUS BEL CYP CZE DEN EST FIN FRA GFR GRE HUN IRE ITA LAT LIT LUX MAL NET POL POR SVK SVN SPA SWE GBR |
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| A.5 | top Q: Did the judgment of the Court of Justice of 27 June 2006 in the case Parliament v. Council (C-540/03) already have any effect on the implementation of the Directive, the national practice or case-law or the legal literature? If so, please specify the effects. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| answer Cyprus | A: No.
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AUS BEL CYP CZE DEN EST FIN FRA GFR GRE HUN IRE ITA LAT LIT LUX MAL NET POL POR SVK SVN SPA SWE GBR |
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| B. Questions on specific provisions | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| B.1 | top Q: Article 3(1): How is the clause: who has reasonable prospects of obtaining the right of permanent residence implemented in the national law? |
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| answer Cyprus | A: The clause has been copied in the pending Bill without, however, defining which categories of third country nationals have the reasonable prospects of obtaining the right to permanent residence permit. Based on existing practice and the provisions of the Bill regarding the long term residence status, it may be assumed that only those third country nationals who will be granted the long term residence status will be entitled to family reunification rights. [However, the provisions of the Bill regarding the eligibility for the long term residence status are very restrictive so it is not expected that a lot of third country nationals will benefit from it.] The other categories of third country nationals who would be entitled to it under the current policies are persons employed in the international companies sector as well as those third country nationals benefiting from the exception of the 4 year maximum residence rule. [However, in at least one case of a third country national under this category, a residence permit of 11 months was given instead of 12 months that was the practice up to date. This means that she is excluded immediately from the scope of the Family Reunification Directive.]
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AUS BEL CYP CZE DEN EST FIN FRA GFR GRE HUN IRE ITA LAT LIT LUX MAL NET POL POR SVK SVN SPA SWE GBR |
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| B.2 | top Q: Article 3(3):
Will a third country national also having the nationality of your country be able to rely on the Directive? |
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| answer Cyprus | A: The Bill does not regulate this aspect so in principle he/she could be able to rely on the Directive.
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AUS BEL CYP CZE DEN EST FIN FRA GFR GRE HUN IRE ITA LAT LIT LUX MAL NET POL POR SVK SVN SPA SWE GBR |
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| B.3 | top Q: Article 3(3):
Are nationals of your country and their third country national family members entitled to the same treatment, to a more privileged treatment or to less favourable treatment as provided in the Directive? Please specify the differences. |
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| answer Cyprus | A: The Aliens and Immigration Law does not regulate at all the status of third country nationals’ members of the family of a Cypriot national apart from the fact that they are considered ´native Cypriots´ after one year of cohabitation with the Cypriot national. This status, however, has no content (it does not provide for any rights to residence permit, employment e.t.c.). According to current practice, third country nationals’ members of the family of Cypriot nationals are entitled to stay and work but they are completely dependent on the Cypriot national. According to the Citizenship Law, after three years of continuous cohabitation with the Cypriot national, third country nationals are entitled to be registered as Cypriot citizens, provided the marriage is not one of convenience. Before the granting of citizenship and in case the Cypriot national dies or they are divorced or do not live together anymore for any reason, the residence permit of the third country national is revoked and they are expected to leave Cyprus, unless they are the parents of a child of Cypriot nationality.
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| B.4 | top Q: Article 4(1):
Has the right to family reunification of spouses and minor children been codified in national law? If so, please mention the relevant provisions of national law. |
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| answer Cyprus | A: Yes it has been codified. The right to family reunification of the spouse is granted provided that the marriage took place at least one year before the submission of the application for family reunification.
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AUS BEL CYP CZE DEN EST FIN FRA GFR GRE HUN IRE ITA LAT LIT LUX MAL NET POL POR SVK SVN SPA SWE GBR |
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| B.5 | top Q: Article 4(1) and 4(6): (children over 12 or 15 years)
Does the national law of your country provide special rules concerning the admission of children aged over 12 or 15 years? |
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| answer Cyprus | A: No.
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| B.6 | top Q: If children over 15 are prevented from applying for family reunification under what conditions are they entitled to reside considering the obligation for Member States second sentence of Article 4(6)? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| answer Cyprus | A: In order for children over 15 years to apply for family reunification they have to be dependent on the sponsor, otherwise they are allowed entry and residence on other basis not defined however in the Law, it is left at the discretion of the Migration Officer.
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| B.7 | top Q: Is your country barred from using the exceptions in Article 4(1) last sentence and Article 4(6) by the standstill-clauses in those two provisions? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| answer Cyprus | A: Yes, it is barred from using the standstill clause of Article 4(6) as the provision described in the previous question, and which is included in the legislation in force, does not correspond to the letter of the standstill- clause of 4(6). In the legislation in force there is no provision restricting the right of third country nationals to apply for family reunification before the children reach the age of 15.
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| B.8 | top Q: Article 4(3) (unmarried partners)
Has the provision on the admission of unmarried partners been implemented in national law? If so, under what conditions do they have a right to family reunification? |
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| answer Cyprus | A: The discretionary provisions on unmarried partners have not been included in the Bill.
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| B.9 | top Q: Article 4(5) (minimum age spouse)
Does the national law require a minimum age for the admission of spouses that is higher than 18 years? If so what is the minimum age? |
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| answer Cyprus | A: It is 21 years.
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| B.10 | top Q: Article 5(2) (documents and fees)
What kind of documentary evidence has to be presented with a family reunification application? |
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| answer Cyprus | A: The following documents should be submitted, where applicable [It is not defined what is applicable however in each case]:
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| B.11 | top Q: Does the applicant have to pay any fees and, if so, what is the (total) amount of those fees? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| answer Cyprus | A: Yes, CYP 100 which is around 180 Euro. It has to be noted that this fee is the second highest fee provided for applications in the Republic, after the new fee that is going to be imposed for the long term residence application which is going to be CYP 300 (around 580 Euro).
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| B.12 | top Q: Article 5(3) (place of application)
May an application be submitted when the family members are already residing in the Member State? |
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| answer Cyprus | A: No.
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| B.13 | top Q: Article 5(4) (length of the procedure)
Is there any time limit for the decision on the application by the administration? |
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| answer Cyprus | A: At the latest 9 months and in exceptional cases if may be extended to another 3 months.
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| B.14 | top Q: Article 5(5) (interest of the child)
How is the provision that Member States 'shall have due regard to the best interests of minor children' implemented in national law? |
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| answer Cyprus | A: It is just copied from the Directive and it is up to the Migration Officer on how it going to be implemented. However, based on current practice by the Migration Officer on other cases it does not seem that the principle of having due regard to the best interests of the minor children is taken into account when decisions are made. [For example a recent deportation has taken place of a mother with her three minor children, one of them with health problems, who have been established for 10 years in Cyprus on the basis of the current policy of a maximum 4 years residence of third country nationals in Cyprus. No justification or reasoning was given whether the principle of the best interests of the children has been taken into account.]
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| B.15 | top Q: Article 6 (public policy exception)
How has the public policy and public security exception been implemented and defined in the national law? |
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| answer Cyprus | A: The provisions of the Directive have been copied. Based on current practice, with regard to third country nationals public policy and public security exception are very applied very strictly and normally no justification if given based on facts when these exceptions are applied. It has to be noted that even if a person files with the Supreme Court against such decisions, according to established case law, the Court may not examine whether the public policy and public security concerns are justified. So there is really no effective remedy on these cases.
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| B.16 | top Q: What are the similarities and differences compared to the definitions of the same notions in the context of free movement of EU citizens? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| answer Cyprus | A: With regard to EU nationals the public policy and public security provisions have been copied as well from Directive 2004/38/EC, therefore the similarities and differences can be seen from the text of the Directives themselves.
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| B.17 | top Q: Article 7(1)(a) and (c)(income and housing)
How is the income requirement specified in the national law? |
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| answer Cyprus | A: The income requirement is copied from the Directive.
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| B.18 | top Q: What is the level of net monthly income required (in euros)? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| answer Cyprus | A: The Bill does not set a specific level. The stable and secured income may be evaluated by the Migration Officer on a case by case basis, based on the following factors:
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| B.19 | top Q: Is there a housing requirement in force, and if so, what is the minimum surface of the accommodation (in square meters)? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| answer Cyprus | A: The housing requirement is part of elements that are taken into account to establish the stable and sufficient resources, and not a condition in itself. There is not a minimum surface requirement.
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| B.20 | top Q: Article 7(2) (integration measures)
Are family members required to comply with integration measures? If so, do they have to comply before or after admission and what are they actually required to do (follow a course, pass a test, etc.) |
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| answer Cyprus | A: After admission, the family members are required to take courses in Greek language and Cypriot History and Culture.
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| B.21 | top Q: Are there any positive or negative sanctions (privileges, subsidies, fines, residence rights or other) attached to the integration measures? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| answer Cyprus | A: In case the courses are not taken, the residence permit may be revoked by the Migration Officer.
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| B.22 | top Q: Does the national law distinguish between the concepts 'integration conditions' and 'integration measures' (compare Article 4(1) last indent and 7(2))? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| answer Cyprus | A: The concept as such is not used. What it is stated is the obligation to follow Greek language courses and courses of Cypriot History and Culture without, however, defining them either as integration measures or integration conditions.
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| B.23 | top Q: Article 8 (waiting period)
Is there any waiting period before the family reunification application can be filed? |
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| answer Cyprus | A: Two years residence.
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| B.24 | top Q: Article 9(2) (privileges for refugees)
Which privileges granted by the Articles 10-12 are in the national law limited to family relationship that predate the entry of the refugees? |
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| answer Cyprus | A: The current Bill does not regulate the family reunification of Refugees. There is separate legislation on Refugees that already includes family reunification of refugees which has not been amended as yet for transposition purposes. Initially the Bill included provisions on the family reunification of Refugees, however, they were taken out at some point after the intervention of UNHCR in Cyprus who insisted on regulating this issue in the Refugee law instead.
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| B.25 | top Q: Do other protected persons than Convention refugees benefit from the provisions of Chapter V of this Directive? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| answer Cyprus | A: See Answer on B.24.
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| B.26 | top Q: Article 10(3) (family members of unaccompanied minors)
Are the parents, legal guardians or other family members of a refugee who is an unaccompanied minor, entitled to a residence permit under national law? |
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| answer Cyprus | A: -
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| B.27 | top Q: Article 11 (lack of documents)
Which rules on alternatives to official documents in case of lack of official documents proving the family relationship are provided for in the national law? |
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| answer Cyprus | A: -
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| B.28 | top Q: Article 12 (exemption from requirements)
From which requirements for family reunification, mentioned in Article 7 or Article 8, are refugees or their family members explicitly exempted by national law? |
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| answer Cyprus | A: -
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| B.29 | top Q: Article 13(1) (visa facilitation)
How has the obligation to grant third country family members 'every facility for obtaining the required visas' been implemented in national law? |
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| answer Cyprus | A: That provision has been copied from the Directive and there are no cases to prove how it is going to be implemented. The case law of the ECJ on the matter with regard to visa facilitation of third country nationals who family members of E.U. nationals provides, however, a guideline as to how this provision should be applied.
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| B.30 | top Q: Article 14 (equal treatment)
How has the right of admitted family members to 'access to employment and self-employment in the same way as the sponsor' been implemented in national law? |
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| answer Cyprus | A: The provisions of the Directive have been copied and there are not examples of how they are going to be implemented in practice.
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| B.31 | top Q: Did your country make use of the exception to that equal treatment allowed under Article 14(2) of the Directive? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| answer Cyprus | A: Yes.
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| B.32 | top Q: Article 15 (autonomous residence permit)
After how many years are spouses, unmarried partners and children entitled to an autonomous residence permit under national law? What other conditions are they required to fulfil in order to obtain such a permit? |
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| answer Cyprus | A: Five years of residence, in case they have not in the meantime secured a different type of residence permit or, in the case of children, when they become adults. There are no other conditions.
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AUS BEL CYP CZE DEN EST FIN FRA GFR GRE HUN IRE ITA LAT LIT LUX MAL NET POL POR SVK SVN SPA SWE GBR |
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| B.33 | top Q: Under what conditions can an autonomous residence permit be obtained before the period of time normally required under national law? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| answer Cyprus | A: In cases of particularly difficult circumstances such as death of the sponsor, the members of the family are victims of domestic violence, or victims of exploitation, or sexual exploitation, the Migration Officer may, if he thinks appropriate, grant and autonomous residence permit to the member of the family before the 5 year period.
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AUS BEL CYP CZE DEN EST FIN FRA GFR GRE HUN IRE ITA LAT LIT LUX MAL NET POL POR SVK SVN SPA SWE GBR |
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| B.34 | top Q: Article 16(1)(a) (resources)
Is the income of family members taken into account for the calculation of the sufficient resources at the time of the renewal of the permit? |
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| answer Cyprus | A: Yes.
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AUS BEL CYP CZE DEN EST FIN FRA GFR GRE HUN IRE ITA LAT LIT LUX MAL NET POL POR SVK SVN SPA SWE GBR |
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| B.35 | top Q: Article 16(1)(b) (real family relationship)
Does the national law allow for refusal or withdrawal of a residence permit on the ground that the family member does no longer live in a real marital or family relationship? If so, which criteria have to be fulfilled under national law? Is the ground applicable to the relationship between parents and minor children? |
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| answer Cyprus | A: Yes. There are not defined criteria to be fulfilled. It’s all up to the discretion of the Migration Officer to decide whether there is not a real marital or family life. It covers also the relationship between parents and children as it refers to family life. |
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AUS BEL CYP CZE DEN EST FIN FRA GFR GRE HUN IRE ITA LAT LIT LUX MAL NET POL POR SVK SVN SPA SWE GBR |
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| B.36 | top Q: Article 16(4) (marriage of convenience)
Does the national law contain provisions on fraud or on marriages or partnerships of conveniences? Is so are the definitions, checks and practices in conformity with Article 16(4)? |
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| answer Cyprus | A: The Bill contains provisions on fraud or marriages of convenience and basically copies the provisions of the Directive without defining them or qualifying them in any way. The provisions of Article 16(4) with regard to checks and practices are copied and the checks and practices are not defined at all.
Eventhough there are existing provisions in the Aliens and Immigration Law in force with regard to checks and practices on matters of marriages of convenience, the relevant Article of the Bill does not make any reference to these provisions. Currently, when examining whether the marriage is one of convenience between Cypriot and third country nationals and third country nationals amongst them, interviews may be conducted, investigation may take place by the police e.t.c. and an advisory committee, consisting of representatives of various authorities, should examine all the elements in order to advice the Migration Officer whether the marriage is one of convenience or not. However, in practice, this advisory committee is often not consulted at all and the Migration Officer decides on the basis of information by the Aliens and Immigration Police whether the marriage is one of convenience or not. |
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AUS BEL CYP CZE DEN EST FIN FRA GFR GRE HUN IRE ITA LAT LIT LUX MAL NET POL POR SVK SVN SPA SWE GBR |
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| B.37 | top Q: Article 17 (relevant considerations)
How has this clause, requiring that certain specific elements are to be taken into consideration in the decision making on residence permits and removal orders, been implemented in the national law? |
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| answer Cyprus | A: The provisions of the Directive are copied in the Bill. No examples on whether and how these are taken into account.
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| B.38 | top Q: Article 18 (judicial review)
Are the sponsor and his family members entitled to have a negative decision reviewed by a court or independent tribunal? If so, please specify the relevant provisions in the national law and the scope of the judicial review (full review, review on legality or marginal control only)? |
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| answer Cyprus | A: There are no special provisions in the Aliens and Immigration Law regarding to the right to review from an independent authority or a court. However, according to the Constitution (article 146), every person has the right to file a recourse in the Supreme Court against any negative decision of the administration, including decisions of the Migration Officer.
The Supreme Court however does not examine the merits of the case but only the legality of the administrative decisions. As a consequence, even if a case is won at the Supreme Court, the administration is the one to re-examine the case and take a second decision which again may be review before the Supreme Court e.t.c.. Provided there is not a second degree independent body to review the decisions of the Migration Officer both on the merits and the legality, it may be considered that there is not an effective remedy in place fulfilling the conditions set by the ECJ in the case C-136/03 (Dörr and Ünal), which also concerns third country nationals. |
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| B.39 | top Q: Article 18 (judicial review)
Is (publicly funded) legal aid available for an appeal against a decision to refuse fam-ily reunification or to withdraw the residence permit of a family member? |
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| answer Cyprus | A: No.
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AUS BEL CYP CZE DEN EST FIN FRA GFR GRE HUN IRE ITA LAT LIT LUX MAL NET POL POR SVK SVN SPA SWE GBR |
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| C. Final questions | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| C.1 | top Q: What are in your view the main strengths and weaknesses of the Directive? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| answer Cyprus | A: The Directive allows member states too much discretion to regulate the right of family reunification in accordance with national law. There are too many exceptions and too many conditions to be fulfilled in order for third country nationals to be able to exercise their right of family. One of the most important and vague conditions that leaves too much discretion to member states to the extent that the Directive may be not implemented at all, is that is applies only to third country nationals who have reasonable prospects of obtaining the right of permanent residence permit.
Provided that the conditions of entry and residence for the purpose of employment of third country nationals to the member states have not as yet been harmonised on E.U. level, and each member state is free to implement their own immigration policies with regard to entry and residence for the period of up until 5 years, where the long term residence Directive is then applicable, the Family Reunification Directive as well as the Long term Residence Directive, which is directly relevant to the exercise of family reunification rights, may not be considered effective in terms of securing the rights of third country nationals and promoting their integration. This, of course, would be the result in a member state where the immigration policies are very strict and are based on a model of temporary migration. The effects of the Directive or E.U. harmonisation on immigration in general in other member states could be different. On the other hand, for those who will finally benefit from the right to family reunification, the Directive provides a sufficient and precise status to the members of the family of the third country national concerned, including the right to employment which is a positive aspect. |
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AUS BEL CYP CZE DEN EST FIN FRA GFR GRE HUN IRE ITA LAT LIT LUX MAL NET POL POR SVK SVN SPA SWE GBR |
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| C.2 | top Q: Please add any other interesting information on the Directive or its implementation in your country that might be relevant for our study. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| answer Cyprus | A: What is most important to be understood in the case of Cyprus is the migration model in the context of which the Family Reunification Directive is to be implemented. A model of temporary migration, with residence and employment permit for a maximum of 4 years, in a specific sector of the economy and only with a specific employer. This model applies to all third country nationals, with a few exceptions as to the length of stay to some categories as described above. It is evident that the migration model in itself does not allow for any integration policies to be implemented, such as rights to family reunification or to long term residence. It is expected that third country nationals will never remain permanently but they will be always replaced with newcomers in order to cover the labour market needs and economic and social interests of Cyprus.
There is awidespread perception perception among government officials and the public at large that with 10% foreigners working in Cyprus now and a constantly increasing significant number of refugees and asylum seekers, 'Cyprus has as many foreigners working and/or living here as it can cope with'. |
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| C.3 | top Q: Please send us copies of the relevant laws and regulations, of any legal or other publications on the Directive or of judgments of national courts applying or interpreting the Directive, if possible in electronic form. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| answer Cyprus | A: -
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| D. Table | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| D.1 | top Q: This table refers only to mandatory provisions of the Directive.
Please choose for each article one of the four alternative labels:
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| answer Cyprus | A: Not available | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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