The application was made in the context of a dispute between X, an Afghan national granted refugee protection, and the Belgische Staat (Belgian State) concerning the latter’s rejection of her application for the issue of a visa for family reunification

The Court  ruled that 

Council Directive 2003/86/EC of 22 September 2003 on family reunification must be interpreted as precluding national legislation under which, in the absence of a decision being adopted within  six months of the date on which the application for family reunification was lodged, the competent national authorities must automatically issue a residence permit to the applicant, without necessarily having to establish in advance that the latter actually meets the requirements for residence in the host Member State in accordance with EU law.