L 251/12 Official Journal of the European Union 3.10.2003 COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 2003/86/EC of 22 September 2003 on the right to family reunification THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 63(3)(a) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission ('), Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (%), Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee (), Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions (*), Whereas: 1 With a view to the progressive establishment of an area of freedom, security and justice, the Treaty establishing the European Community provides both for the adop- tion of measures aimed at ensuring the free movement of persons, in conjunction with flanking measures relating to external border controls, asylum and immi- gration, and for the adoption of measures relating to asylum, immigration and safeguarding the rights of third country nationals. Measures concerning family reunification should be adopted in conformity with the obligation to protect the family and respect family life enshrined in many instru- ments of international law. This Directive respects the fundamental rights and observes the principles recog- nised in particular in Article 8 of the European Conven- tion for the Protection of Human Rights and Funda- mental Freedoms and in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. The European Council, at its special meeting in Tampere on 15 and 16 October 1999, acknowledged the need for harmonisation of national legislation on the conditions for admission and residence of third country nationals. In this context, it has in particular stated that the European Union should ensure fair treatment of third country nationals residing lawfully on the territory of the Member States and that a more vigorous integration policy should aim at granting them rights and obliga- tions comparable to those of citizens of the European Union. The European Council accordingly asked the Council rapidly to adopt the legal instruments on the basis of Commission proposals. The need for achieving 116 E, 26.4.2000, p. 66, and O] C 62 E, 27.2.2001, p. 99. 135, 7.5.2001, p. 174. (t o]c () o]c () O] C 204, 18.7.2000, p. 40. () 0] C 73,26.3.2003, p. 16. (10) the objectives defined at Tampere have been reaffirmed by the Laeken European Council on 14 and 15 December 2001. Family reunification is a necessary way of making family life possible. It helps to create sociocultural stability facil- itating the integration of third country nationals in the Member State, which also serves to promote economic and social cohesion, a fundamental Community objective stated in the Treaty. Member States should give effect to the provisions of this Directive without discrimination on the basis of sex, race, colour, ethnic or social origin, genetic characteris- tics, language, religion or beliefs, political or other opinions, membership of a national minority, fortune, birth, disabilities, age or sexual orientation. To protect the family and establish or preserve family life, the material conditions for exercising the right to family reunification should be determined on the basis of common criteria. Member States should be able to apply this Directive also when the family enters together. Special attention should be paid to the situation of refu- gees on account of the reasons which obliged them to flee their country and prevent them from leading a normal family life there. More favourable conditions should therefore be laid down for the exercise of their right to family reunification. Family reunification should apply in any case to members of the nuclear family, that is to say the spouse and the minor children. It is for the Member States to decide whether they wish to authorise family reunification for relatives in the direct ascending line, adult unmarried children, unmar- ried or registered partners as well as, in the event of a polygamous marriage, minor children of a further spouse and the sponsor. Where a Member State authorises family reunification of these persons, this is without prejudice of the possibility, for Member States which do not recognise the existence of family ties in the cases covered by this provision, of not granting to the said persons the treatment of family members with regard to the right to reside in another Member State, as defined by the relevant EC legislation.