Family Reunification for Third-Country Nationals: Minimum Age for Spouses, Integration Measures and the Application of the Individual Assessment. Comments on Noorzia and Dogan

Abstract

The article analyses the Advocate General’s opinion and the Court of Justice’s judgment in the cases of Noorzia and Dogan, which concern the interpretation of the minimum age requirement for spouses in an application for family reunification and the integration measures that may be imposed on family members of third-country nationals in the same procedure. Specific attention is being paid to the issue of the individual assessment of an application for family reunification, especially as regards the two provisions at hand. The article argues that the Advocate General’s approach is reasonable and well-argued whereas the Court adopts a strict, unconvincing and inconsistent with its prior case law judgment.