Ministry of Justice
Date:
Office:
Det Internationale Kon-
tor
Contact: Michelle Steffensen
Our ref..: 2012-308-0003
Doc.:
340992
Denmark’s response to the Commission Green Paper on the right to
Family Reunification of third-country nationals living in the European
Union
Denmark welcomes the consultation process initiated by the Commission
with the Green Paper on the right to Family Reunification of third-country
nationals living in the European Union.
From the discussions during the lunch at the informal Meeting in Copen-
hagen on 26 January 2012 it has become clear that there is not a uniform
opinion on the need for a revision of the Family Reunification Directive
(2003/86/EC) between the Member States.
Denmark therefore looks forward to learn the outcome of the consultation
process and avails itself to the Commission for cooperation on the follow-
up to the Green Paper.
Due to the Danish reservation in the area of Justice and Home Affairs
Denmark is not bound by the Family Reunification Directive.
Thus, Denmark’s response to the Green Paper will focus on the Danish
legislation and practice regarding family reunification.
It should be noted that in Danish legislation same-sex (registered) partners
and cohabitating partners are equal to married spouses. In the text below,
the term “spouse” will therefore cover all of these. Likewise the term
“marriage” also covers registered partnerships and cohabitations.
However, cohabitation is only equal to marriage, if the partners have lived
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