Distinguishing between Use and Abuse of EU Free Movement Law: Evaluating Use of the “Europe-route” for Family Reunification to Overcome Reverse Discrimination

The Maastricht Treaty in 1992 marked “a new stage in the process of creating an ever closer union among the peoples of Europe”.¹ Before 1992, European integration was built upon economic premises, which translated into the four fundamental freedoms of goods, persons, services and capital.² Rights that were given to individuals were aimed at realizing the economic goals that were part of the EEC’s design.³ The right to family reunification for workers, for instance, was granted to facilitate their integration into the host Member State and to further the economic purpose of their movement.⁴ Therefore, it was only available to