Abstract

The essay analyses how European regulation of free movement can potentially affect national policies of immigration control as far as reunification of Eu migrant citizens with their extra-European relatives is concerned. Following an overview of regulations and case-law evolution in this field, the author examines the consequences of the broad interpretation of those rules given by Ecj in the recent "Metock" case as well as the role played by art. 8 of Echr in the solution of the questions referred to the European judge. Beyond revealing the existence of a privileged area of access to the labour market reserved to those subjects, the analysis highlights the unreasonableness of the whole system of protection of family unification as provided for by the European legislator.