CJEU Case C-165/14 / Judgment

Alfredo Rendón Marín v. Administración del Estado
Policy area
Justice, freedom and security
Deciding body type
Court of Justice of the European Union
Deciding body
Court (Grand Chamber)
Type
Decision
Decision date
13/09/2016
ECLI (European case law identifier)
ECLI:EU:C:2016:675
  • CJEU Case C-165/14 / Judgment

    Key facts of the case:

    Reference for a preliminary ruling — Citizenship of the Union — Articles 20 and 21 TFEU — Directive 2004/38/EC — Right of a third-country national with a criminal record to reside in a Member State — Parent having sole care of two minor children, who are Union citizens — First child possessing the nationality of the Member State of residence — Second child possessing the nationality of another Member State — National legislation precluding grant of a residence permit to the father because of his criminal record — Refusal of residence capable of resulting in the children being obliged to leave the territory of the European Union

    Results (sanctions) and key consequences of the case:

    ...the Court (Grand Chamber) hereby rules:

    Article 21 TFEU and Directive 2004/38/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on the right of citizens of the Union and their family members to move and reside freely within the territory of the Member States amending Regulation (EEC) No 1612/68 and repealing Directives 64/221/EEC, 68/360/EEC, 72/194/EEC, 73/148/EEC, 75/34/EEC, 75/35/EEC, 90/364/EEC, 90/365/EEC and 93/96/EEC must be interpreted as precluding national legislation which requires a third-country national to be automatically refused the grant of a residence permit on the sole ground that he has a criminal record where he is the parent of a minor child who is a Union citizen and a national of a Member State other than the host Member State and who is his dependant and resides with him in the host Member State.

    Article 20 TFEU must be interpreted as precluding the same national legislation which requires a third-country national who is a parent of minor children who are Union citizens in his sole care to be automatically refused the grant of a residence permit on the sole ground that he has a criminal record, where that refusal has the consequence of requiring those children to leave the territory of the European Union.

  • Paragraphs referring to EU Charter
    1. As regards, moreover, the possible expulsion of Mr Rendón Marín, it is necessary, first, to take account of the fundamental rights whose observance the Court ensures, in particular the right to respect for private and family life, as laid down in Article 7 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (‘the Charter’) (see, to this effect, judgment of 23 November 2010, Tsakouridis, C‑145/09, EU:C:2010:708, paragraph 52) and, secondly, to observe the principle of proportionality. Article 7 of the Charter must be read in conjunction with the obligation to take into consideration the child’s best interests, recognised in Article 24(2) thereof (see, to this effect, judgment of 23 December 2009, Detiček, C‑403/09 PPU, EU:C:2009:810, paragraphs 53 and 54).
    1. Article 20 TFEU does not affect the possibility of Member States relying on an exception linked, in particular, to upholding the requirements of public policy and safeguarding public security. However, in so far as Mr Rendón Marin’s situation falls within the scope of EU law, assessment of his situation must take account of the right to respect for private and family life, as laid down in Article 7 of the Charter, an article which, as has been pointed out in paragraph 66 above, must be read in conjunction with the obligation to take into consideration the child’s best interests, recognised in Article 24(2) of the Charter.