Family Reunification in Albania: A Comparative Study in the Context of Albanian Integration in the EU

Abstract

Family Reunification is a necessary way of making family life possible. It is a fundamental right and it is a social right. This article examines Albanian legislation on family reunification. The purpose of the Albanian new legislation is to create a complete legal framework according to the European Union rules on family reunification. The aim of this study is to analyze, under Migration and Asylum Legislation of the Republic of Albania, the procedures, the conditions and the beneficiaries of family reunification of migrants and refugees in the territory of Albania. It will analyze the definition of the family, the conditions of entry and stay and the rights conferred on family members. We argue that the issue of family reunification is not the heart of immigration policy. Albanian legislation is now presented more “in line” with the European standards even that the progress has been slower and less substantial than expected. Moreover, the level of protection of family life in these instruments should be significantly higher than the present one. Many flexible elements should be introduced to facilitate the process of family reunification and to force the protection of the rights of family members. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2013.v4n6p681