For third country nationals, the reunification of spouses may be subject to a condition that both spouses have reached the age of 21 by the date the application is lodged

Date of article: 17/07/2014

Daily News of: 18/07/2014

Country:  EUROPE

Author: Court of Justice of the European Union

Article language: en

The Directive on family reunification lays down the conditions under which third country nationals who reside legally in the territory of a Member State may apply for, among others, their spouse and their children who are minors to join them. In order to ensure better integration and to prevent forced marriages, the Directive permits Member States to fix a minimum age for the purposes of the reunification of spouses, which may not be higher than 21. That minimum age must be reached by both the sponsor and his or her spouse before the latter may join the sponsor. The Directive does not, however, define the date by reference to which the national authorities must determine whether the minimum age condition is satisfied.

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According to Advocate General Cruz Villalón, an ovum whose development has been stimulated without fertilisation and which is not capable of becoming a human being cannot be considered a human embryo

Date of article: 17/07/2014

Daily News of: 18/07/2014

Country:  EUROPE

Author: Court of Justice of the European Union

Article language: en

However, if this ovum is genetically manipulated in such a way that it can develop into a human being, it must be regarded as a human embryo and as such excluded from patentability

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