The protection of the family life of displaced persons, asylum applicants, refugees, in European Law ; La protección de la vida familiar de las personas desplazadas, de las demandantes de asilo, de las refugiadas y de las apátridas en el Derecho Europeo
AbstractEuropean law, in response to the massive arrival of persons applying for international protection within the territory of the EU over the past decades, has been obliged to provide legislative and jurisprudential solutions to regulate this phenomenon. The changes and advances in the protection of displaced persons, asylum applicants, refugees, and stateless persons in European law and particularly EU law have therefore been constant. In this paper we analyze to which extent these changes have affected the family life of these persons.The ECtHR, in its interpretation of the Convention, in reference to all the relevant regulations of Council of Europe, has not been keen to use its case law to create direct positive obligations for the contracting parties. Its decisions are essentially based on a case-by-case analysis. If the persons concerned are able to continue their family life outside the State of reception, it considers no violation of the right to respect for family life has occurred. On the other hand, when the State fails to meet the minimum obligations of assistance, is engagedin bad practices, causes a loss of residence or nationality, or unduly interferes with the development of family life, a violation of Article 8 of the Convention exists. In EU law, reflecting the desire to create a common asylum policy, directives and regulations have rapidly succeeded one another. In case of mass influx, displaced persons have the possibility to request reunification with family members and the right to appeal the denial of these requests. With regard to asylum applicants, the new regulations include several advances in relationto the right to respect to family life. Among others, the number of persons considered family members has been extended, including the relatives of underage applicants who may request family reunification; the conditions for detention have been improved, allowing for more contacts with family members and the possibility to facilitate separate accommodation to families in detention. An obligation has been introduced to carry out a personal interview with the applicant. Moreover, modifications have been implemented to improve the cooperation between national authorities at all levels, including the cooperation regarding family reunification in the case of unaccompanied minors and dependant persons, the performance of transfers, and the exchange of information when families are dispersed. In addition, assistance and support will be provided to the family members of minors who are victims of human trafficking when they find themselves within the territory of the Member States. With regard to the family members of refugees and stateless persons, these may now be granted refugee status if they find themselves in the same State as the applicant, provided the family already existed in the country of origin. Nonetheless, not on all relevant issues necessary headway was made. For instance, with regard to LGBTI families, their protection still essentially depends on the national rules of the host State, which continues to give cause to discrimination. ; ResumenAnte la llegada masiva en las últimas décadas de personas solicitantes de protección internacional en el territorio europeo, el Derecho Europeo ha debido encontrar respuestas legislativas y jurisprudenciales para regularla. Los cambios y avances en materia de protección de las personas desplazadas, de las demandantes de asilo, de las refugiadas y de las apátridas en el Derecho Europeo y especialmente en el derecho de la Unión Europea han sido constantes. En este trabajo se analiza hasta qué punto estos cambios han afectado la vida familiar de estas personas.El TEDH, interpretando el Convenio y sirviéndose de la normativa del Consejo de Europa en la materia, no ha querido en sus construcciones pretorianas crear obligaciones positivas directas para los Estados.Su análisis es casuístico y si las personas afectadas pueden continuar su vida familiar fuera del Estado que les ha acogido, no considera que exista ninguna violación del derecho al respeto de la vida familiar.En cambio, cuando el Estado no cumple con sus obligaciones de asistencia mínimas, realiza malas prácticas, es el causante de la pérdida deresidencia o nacionalidad o se injiere inadecuadamente en el desarrollo de la vida familiar, existe violación del artículo 8 del Convenio. En el Derecho de la Unión Europea, con la voluntad de crear una política común de asilo, Directivas y Reglamentos se han sucedido rápidamente.Las personas desplazadas en caso de afluencia masiva cuentan con la posibilidad de reagrupar a los miembros de la familia y de interponer recurso ante la denegación de su derecho a la reunificación familiar.En relación con los demandantes de asilo, las nuevas normativas han realizado avances en el derecho al respeto de la vida familiar. Entre otros, han ampliado los sujetos considerados como miembros de la familia, incluyendo a los familiares del solicitante menor que podrá pedir reagrupación familiar; se han mejorado las condiciones de internamiento posibilitando más contactos con los familiares e incluyendo la posibilidad de facilitar a las familias internadas un alojamiento separado y se ha creado la obligación de realizar una entrevista personal con el solicitante. Asimismo, se han realizado modificaciones paramejorar la cooperación entre autoridades nacionales a todos los niveles, incluyendo la cooperación en materia de reagrupación familiar enel caso de menores no acompañados y personas dependientes, la realizaciónde traslados y el intercambio de información cuando la familia esté dispersa. Además, se prestará asistencia y apoyo a la familia de los menores víctimas de la trata de seres humanos cuando aquella se encuentre en el territorio del Estado miembros. Respecto a los miembros de las familias de las personas refugiadas y de las apátridas estas podrán ser beneficiarias del estatuto de refugiado si se encuentran en el mismo estado que el solicitante y la familia ya existía en el país de origen. Sin embargo, no se han producido todos los avances que eran necesarios. Por ejemplo, en relación con las familias LGBTI, su protección aún depende de las normas internas del Estado miembro de acogida, lo que continúa dando pie a discriminaciones.AbstractEuropean law, in response to the massive arrival of persons applying for international protection within the territory of the EU over the past decades, has been obliged to provide legislative and jurisprudential solutions to regulate this phenomenon. The changes and advances in the protection of displaced persons, asylum applicants, refugees, and stateless persons in European law and particularly EU law have therefore been constant. In this paper we analyze to which extent these changes have affected the family life of these persons.The ECtHR, in its interpretation of the Convention, in reference to all the relevant regulations of Council of Europe, has not been keen to use its case law to create direct positive obligations for the contracting parties. Its decisions are essentially based on a case-by-case analysis. If the persons concerned are able to continue their family life outside the State of reception, it considers no violation of the right to respect for family life has occurred. On the other hand, when the State fails to meet the minimum obligations of assistance, is engagedin bad practices, causes a loss of residence or nationality, or unduly interferes with the development of family life, a violation of Article 8 of the Convention exists. In EU law, reflecting the desire to create a common asylum policy, directives and regulations have rapidly succeeded one another. In case of mass influx, displaced persons have the possibility to request reunification with family members and the right to appeal the denial of these requests. With regard to asylum applicants, the new regulations include several advances in relationto the right to respect to family life. Among others, the number of persons considered family members has been extended, including the relatives of underage applicants who may request family reunification; the conditions for detention have been improved, allowing for more contacts with family members and the possibility to facilitate separate accommodation to families in detention. An obligation has been introduced to carry out a personal interview with the applicant. Moreover, modifications have been implemented to improve the cooperation between national authorities at all levels, including the cooperation regarding family reunification in the case of unaccompanied minors and dependant persons, the performance of transfers, and the exchange of information when families are dispersed. In addition, assistance and support will be provided to the family members of minors who are victims of human trafficking when they find themselves within the territory of the Member States. With regard to the family members of refugees and stateless persons, these may now be granted refugee status if they find themselves in the same State as the applicant, provided the family already existed in the country of origin. Nonetheless, not on all relevant issues necessary headway was made. For instance, with regard to LGBTI families, their protection still essentially depends on the national rules of the host State, which continues to give cause to discrimination.