Written question – Austria suspending family reunification – E-001617/2025

Question for written answer  E-001617/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Thomas Waitz (Verts/ALE), Lena Schilling (Verts/ALE), Erik Marquardt (Verts/ALE)

Austria plans to introduce a blanket suspension on family reunification for third-country nationals, in violation of Directive 2003/86/EC on the right to family reunification. In a letter of 4 March 2025 to the Commission, the Austrian Minister of the Interior says that the reunification procedures jeopardise the functioning of the Austrian state’s institutions and its most important public services in particular. Austria thus plans to apply Article 72 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.

• 1.Does the Commission consider the Austrian announcement to be in line with EU law and, if so, how?
• 2.If the Austrian announcement is not in conformity with EU law, how not?
• 3.How did the Commission respond to the letter from the Austrian Minister of the Interior and what steps will it take next?

Submitted: 23.4.2025