‘NO GERMAN, NO LOVE’: LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY AS A CONDITION FOR VISAS OF TURKISH SPOUSES UNDER EU LAW

Year 2013, , 1 - 36, 25.12.2013

Nanette Neuwahl

https://doi.org/10.29228/mjes.99

Abstract

In this article, the author argues that the Ankara Agreement and its 1970 Additional Protocol, as well as Association Council Decision 1/80 can be used to set aside new German visa restrictions which would make family reunification of immigrants conditional on the passing of a language or integration test. The opportunity to establish this comes after questions to this effect have been raised by the Administrative Court of Berlin in requests for preliminary rulings Under Article 267 TFEU. After Case C-513/12, Aslihan Nazli Ayalti v. Federal Republic of Germany was withdrawn from the register, Case C-138/13, Naime Dogan v. Federal Republic of Germany still constitutes an opportunity for the Court of Justice to underline once more the importance of the Ankara Agreement in the relations between the European Union and Turkey.

Keywords

EU, Ankara Agreement, Standstill Clause, Language Tests, Nondiscrimination, Family Reunification

“ALMANCA YOKSA AŞK DA YOK” AVRUPA BİRLİĞİ HUKUKU UYARINCA TÜRK EŞLERİN VİZE İÇİN DİL YETERLİLİK KOŞULU

Abstract

Bu makalede yazar, Ankara Anlaşması ve onun 1970 tarihli Katma Protokolü ile 1/80 sayılı Ortaklık Konseyi Kararı’nın, göçmenlerin aile birleşimini dil ya da bütünleşme testinin geçilmesine bağlayan yeni Avrupa kısıtlamalarının iptal amacıyla ileri sürülebileceğini iddia ediyor. Buna ilişkin imkân, Berlin İdare Mahkemesi’nce, ABİİA madde 267 uyarınca ortaya atılan ön karar müracaatından ileri gelmektedir. Ayaltı davası çerçevesinde başvurulan ön karar prosedürünün geri çekilmesi üzerine, Doğan davası, ABAD’ın AB ile Türkiye ilişkilerinde Ankara Antlaşmasının önemini vurgulaması açısından bir fırsat olarak devam etmektedir.

Keywords

AB, Ankara Antlaşması, Mevcudun Korunması Kuralı, Dil Testleri, Ayrım Yapmama, Aile Birleşimi

References

• Articles : Barbou des Places S., (2012), “La Cour de Justice et l’Accord d’Ankara : variations jurisprudentielles sur la vocation européenne des travailleurs turcs”, Bonnet B., (ed.) Turquie et Union Européenne. État des lieux, Bruylant, Bruxelles, pp. 199-228.
• Borland S., (2014), “Doctors from the EU to Face Language Tests following Landmark Ruling”, http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2076367/Doctors-EU-face-languagetests-following-landmark-ruling.html, Retrieved: 13 January 2014.
• Carlitz C., (2012), “Language Skills as a Requirement for Family Reunification of Spouses in Germany : Respecting Respect for Family Life ?”, Morano-Foad S. & Malena M., Integration for Third-Country Nationals in the European Union. The Equality Challenge. Edgar Elgar Publishing, pp. 303-23.
• Gutmann R., (2014), “Döner and the Customs Union, an Unwritten Standstill Clause”. www.ytb.gov.tr/Files/Document/Gutmann-ENG.pdf. Retrieved: 13 January 2014.
• Hogan-Brun G., Mar-Molinero C. & Stevenson P., (eds.), (2009), Discourses on Language and Integration : Critical Perspectives on Language Testing Regimes in Europe, John Benjamins, Amsterdam.
• Joppke Chr., “Trends in European Immigration Policies”, Burgess J.P. & Gutwirths S. (eds.), (2011), A Threat Against Europe ? Security, Migration and Integration, VUBPress, Brussels, pp. 17-31.
• Kaddous Chr., “Le rôle de la Cour de Justice dans l’interprétation de l’accord d’Association CEE-Turquie”, Bonnet B. (ed.), (2012), Turquie et Union Européenne. État des lieux, Bruylant, Bruxelles, pp. 79-105.
• Maresceau M., “L’accord d’Ankara revisité. Quelques réflexions sur les relations entre l’Union européenne et la Turquie”, Bonnet B. (ed.), (2012), Turquie et Union Européenne. État des lieux, Bruylant, Bruxelles, pp. 47-77.
• Migration Policy Group, ‘ECJ Clarifies Terms Affecting Turkish Workers Residing in the EU’, http://www.migrationnewssheet.eu/ecj-clarifies-terms-affecting-turkish-workersresiding-in-the-eu (last visted 13 January 2014).
• Neuwahl N., (2012), “Case C-371/08, Nural Ziebell v. Land Baden-Württemberg”, Marmara Journal of European Studies, Vol.20, No.2, 165-75.
• Pascouau Y., in collaboration with Labayle H., (2011), “Conditions for Family Reunification under Strain – A Comparative Study in Nine EU Member States”. European Policy Centre, pp. 88-94.
• Polat V., (2012), “L’accord d’Ankara et la libre prestation des services. De l’effectivité de la clause de standstill”, Bonnet B. (ed.), Turquie et Union Européenne. État des lieux, Bruylant, Bruxelles, pp. 229-242.
• Van Oers R., Ersboll E. & Kostakopoulou D., (2010), A Re-definition of Belonging ? Language and Integration Test in Europe. Martinus Nijhoff Publishers. German law: Ausländergesetz, 28 April 1965 (BGBl. I S. 353).
• Aufenthaltsgesetz, 30 July 2004 (BGBl. I S. 1950).
• Gesetz über die allgemeine Freizügigkeit von Unionsbürgern, FreizügG/EU vom 30. Juli 2004, BGBl. I S 1950, zuletzt geändert durch Gesetz vom 20. Dezember 2011.
• Gesetz über den Aufenthalt, die Erwerbstätigkeit und die Integration von Ausländern im Bundesgebiet (Aufenthaltsgesetz – AufenthG), neugefasst durch Bekanntmachung vom Februar 2008 (BGBl. I S. 162), zuletzt geändert durch Art. 1 und Art. 6 Abs. 2 des Gesetzes vom 1. Juni 2012 (BGBl. I S. 1224).
• Gesetz zur Umsetzung aufenthalts- und asylrechtlicher Richtlinien der Europäischen Union vom August 2007 (BGBl. I S. 1970). EU Law: Decision 1/80 of the Association Council of 19 September 1980 on the Development of the Association. Text available at www.inis.gov.ie/en/.../DECISION...1_80.../DECISION_No_1_80_eng.pdf (last visited 13 January 2014.
• Council Regulation (EC) No 539/2001 of 15 March 2001, listing the third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas when crossing the external borders and those whose nationals are exempt from that requirement, OJ L 81, 21.3.2001, p. 1–7.
• Council Directive 2003/86/EC of 22 September 2003 on the right to family reunification, OJ L 251, 3.10.2003, p. 12–18.
• Council Directive 2003/109/EC of 25 November 2003 concerning the status of third-country nationals who are long-term residents, OJ L 16, 23.1.2004, p. 44–53.
• 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 (OJ 2004 L 158, p. 77, and corrigenda OJ 2004 L 229, p. 35 and OJ 2005 L 197, p. 34).
• German and Dutch case law: Bundessozialgericht, Decision of 11 January 2000 – B 11 AL 29/99 B.
• Bundesverfassungsgericht, decision of 25 March 2011 – 2 BvR 1413/11 –, NVwZ 2011, 870. Bundesverwaltungsgericht, judgment of 30 March 2010 – 1 C 8.09 –, BVerwGE 136, 231.
• Bundesverwaltungsgericht, judgement of 4 September 2012 – 10 C 12.12.
• District Court of The Hague, judgment of 14 February 2011, case 10/6045.
• Verwaltugsgericht Berlin, Decision of 25 October 2012, VG 29 K 138 12 V.
• Case law of the Court of Justice of the European Union: Case 67/74, Judgment of 26 February 1975, Carmelo Angelo Bonsignore v. Oberstadtdirektor der Stadt Köln, European Court Reports 1975, p. 297.
• Case 30/77, Judgment of 27 October 1977, R. v. Pierre Bouchereau, European Court Reports 1977, p. 1999, Joined cases 286/82 and 26/83, Judgment of 31 January 1984, Graziana Luisi and Giuseppe Carbone v. Ministero del Tesoro, European Court Reports 1984, p. 37.
• Case 12/86, Judgment of 30 September 1987, Meryem Demirel v. Stadt Schwäbisch Gmünd, European Court Reports 1987, p. 3719.
• Case 186/87, Judgment of 2 February 1989, Ian William Cowan v. Trésor public, European Court Reports 1989, p. 195.
• Case 379/87, Judgment of 28 November 1989, Groener v. Minister for Education and City of Dublin Vocational Education Committee, European Court Reports 1989, p. 3967.
• Case C-260/89, Judgment of 18 June 1991, Elleniki Radiophonia Tileorasi AE (ERT) v. Dimotiki Etairia Pliroforissis, European Court Reports 1991, p. I-2925.
• Case C-340/89, Judgment of 7 May 1991, Irene Vlassopoulou v. Ministerium für Justiz, Bundes- und Europaangelegenheiten Baden-Württemberg, European Court Reports 1991, p. I-2357.
• Case C-159/90, Judgment of 4 October 1991, The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children Ireland Ltd v. Stephen Grogan and others, European Court Reports 1991, p. I46
• Case C-1/97, Birden v. Bremen, European Court Reports 1998, p. I-7747.
• Case C-351/95, Judgment of 17 April 1997, Kadiman, European Court Reports 1997, I-2133. Case C-424/97, Judgment of 4 July 2000, Salomone Haim v. Kassenzahnärztliche Vereinigung Nordrhein, European Court Reports 2000, p. I-5123.
• Case C-37/98, Judgment of 11 May 2000, Savaş, European Court Reports 2000, p. I-2927.
• Case C-60/00, Judgment of 11 July 2002, Mary Carpenter v. Secretary of State for the Home Department, European Court Reports 2002, p. I-6279.
• Joined cases C-317/01 and C-369/01, Judgment of 21 October 2003, Eran Abatay and Others (C-317/01) and Nadi Sahin (C-369/01) v. Bundesanstalt für Arbeit, European Court Reports 2003, p. I-12301.
• Case C-275/02, Ayaz v. Land Baden-Württemberg, European Court Reports 2004, p. I-8765. Case C-540/03, Judgment of 27 June 2006, European Parliament v. Council of the European Union, European Court Reports 2006, p. I-5769.
• Case C-228/06, Judgment of 19 February 2009, Soysal and Savatli, European Court Reports 2009, p. I-1031.
• Case C-242/06, Judgment of 17 September 2009, Minister voor Vreemdelingenzaken en Integratie v. T. Sahin, European Court Reports 2009, p. I-8465.
• Case C-92/07, Judgment of 29 April 2010, Commission v. The Netherlands, European Court Reports 2010, p. I3683.
• Case C-127/08, Judgment of 25 July 2008, Metock and others v. Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, European Court Reports 2008, p. I-6241.
• Case C-303/08, Judgment of 22 December 2010, Land Baden-Württemberg v. Metin Bozkurt, European Court Reports 2010, p. I-13445.
• Case C-371/08, Judgment of 8 December 2011, Nural Ziebell v. Land Baden-Württemberg, European Court Reports 2011, p. I-00000.
• Joined cases C-300/09 and C-301/09, Judgment of 9 December 2010, Staatssecretaris van Justitie v. F. Toprak (C-300/09) and I. Oguz (C-301/09), European Court Reports 2010, p. I-12845.
• Case C-186/10, Judgment of 21 July 2011, Oguz, European Court Reports 2011, p. I-00000. Case C-221/11, Judgment of 24 September 2013, Leyla Ecem Demirkan v. Federal Republic of Germany, European Court Reports 2013, p. I-00000.
• Case C-513/12: Request for a preliminary ruling from the Verwaltungsgericht Berlin (Germany), lodged on 13 November 2012 — Aslihan Nazli Ayalti v. Federal Republic of Germany, Official Journal C63 of 2 March 2013, p. 6-8.
• Case C-138/13: Request for a preliminary ruling from the Verwaltungsgericht Berlin (Germany), lodged on 19 March 2013 — Naime Dogan v. Federal Republic of Germany, Official Journal C171 of 15 June 2013, p. 14-5.