Acceso usuarios
Oxford District, Reino Unido
Integration is a problematic concept when applied to migrants but could be effective if guided byequality, non-discrimination, and fundamental rights as in Article 2 TEU. This article argues for atransformative rights-centric shift in integration. It reviews the EU’s evolving approach to integra-tion and the status of long-term resident third-country nationals (TCNs) over the decades, highlight-ing the shift from accommodating State interests in migration control to adopting a rights-basedperspective. The Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU) bridges gaps between legally residing TCNs andEU citizens, limiting Member States’ discretion under EU migration law while broadening individ-uals’ rights. The proposed recast Long-Term Residence Directive (2003/109) contains provisions tofurther enhance TCNs’ rights and transform them into rightful actors in European integration. How-ever, the EU Council’s decision to halt negotiations temporarily blocks progress, showing that TCNs’full inclusion in the European polity remains a difficult challenge
