Skip Ribbon Commands
Skip to main content
16/09/2019
NL: The Council of State ruled on the identification document or declaration needed to prove family ties for family reunification application

ECLI
ECLI: NL: RVS: 2019: 3147
Input Provided By
EUAA Asylum Report
Source
Raad
Other Source/Information:
Referral to the CJEU
No
Original Documents
Type
Judgment
Relevant Legislative Provisions
EU Charter of Fundamental Rights ; Family Reunification Directive (Council Directive 2003/86/EC of 22 September 2003 on the right to family reunification);
Reference
Netherlands, Council of State [Afdeling Bestuursrechtspraak van de Raad van State], Applicants (Eritrea) v Court of The Hague [Decision of 01/03/2019 no. 18/6081], 201902483/1 / V1, ECLI: NL: RVS: 2019: 3147, 16 September 2019. Link redirects to the English summary in the EUAA Case Law Database.
Permanent link to the case
https://caselaw.euaa.europa.eu/pages/viewcaselaw.aspx?CaseLawID=1084
Case history
Related cases:
Abstract

The case concerns the evidence (documents and declarations) necessary for a family reunification application. 

By decision of 31 July 2017, the State Secretary rejected the applicants' request for a provisional residence permit. On 18 July 2018, the State Secretary declared the the applicants' objection as unfounded and on 1 March 2019, the court dismissed the appeal brought by the applicants as unfounded. This decision was further appealed. The Council of State rejected the appeal and confirmed the decision.

In this case the authorities could not investigate the authenticity of the guardianship certificate and 'affidavit of guardianship' submitted by the applicants, due to insufficient reliable comparative material available. The Council of State concluded that the lower court was correct when it held that it cannot be confirmed that these documents originate from the Eritrean authorities and took into consideration the fact that the guardianship certificate was dated from after the departure of the sponsor from Eritrea and that the 'affidavit of guardianship' was not dated. It also held that the applicants did not substantiate their claim that the foster situation was already known to the Eritrean authorities, that they experienced special problems or that the requirements imposed were disproportionate with regard to the documents to be submitted.

The decision further confirmed that the hospital report submitted by the applicants did not support their claim that their biological mother is unable to care for them or that under the Eritrean Civil Code the guardianship is legally transferred to another family member.

Thus, it was held that the applicants did not demonstrate the alleged family relationship with the sponsor and their appeal was rejected.

Country of Decision
Netherlands
Court Name
NL: Council of State [Afdeling Bestuursrechtspraak van de Raad van State]
Case Number
201902483/1 / V1
Date of Decision
16/09/2019
Country of Origin
Eritrea
Keywords
Content of Protection/Integration
Eritrea
Family Reunification
Minor / Best interests of the child
Second instance determination / Appeal