Gender, civic stratification and the right to family life: problematising immigrants' integration in the EU

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Acknowledgements

This research note is based on the final project report, forthcoming as Albert Kraler (2010), Civic stratification, gender, and family migration policies in Europe. Final report. Vienna: BMWF/ICMPD. Available at: http://research.icmpd.org/1291.html#c2507.

Notes

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1. Someone will probably remember President Sarkozy's declarations (see Corriere della Sera, 17 November 2005) regarding the violent ‘banlieu’ riots, whose roots could be traced, in his view, to polygamy and other similar 'tribal traditions' of immigrant families.

2. Thus, although a growing number of European states allow for reunification with partners in a long-standing relationship and/or same-sex partnerhips, a marital relationship is still the most accepted definition of a legitimate relationship. Children usually include biological children, adopted children and step-children, but in some countries they cannot be rejoined if older than 15 (Denmark) or 16 (Germany). If the sponsor is an EU citizen enjoying mobility rights, however, eligible family members also include relatives in direct ascending or descending line provided they are financially supported by the sponsor. In addition, other relatives are also eligible, if they are financially supported by the sponsor and have already been financially dependent on the sponsor before admission or have lived in cohabitation with the sponsor.

3. Civic stratification can be conceptualised as the hierarchy of stratified rights resulting from processes of exclusion and inclusion which classifies and sorts out migrants and the realisation of rights formally associated with these locations (Morris 2002).

4. Thus, age of marriage for sponsors and spouses has been increased in the Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands and the UK supposedly to protect girls from forced marriages and the desire to slow down the continual inflow of new migrants into communities deemed to be living apart or in parallel lives.