Abstract Integration is a problematic concept when applied to migrants but could be effective if guided by equality, non‐discrimination, and fundamental rights as in Article 2 TEU. This article argues for a transformative rights‐centric shift in integration. It reviews the EU’s evolving approach to integration and the status of long‐term resident third‐country nationals (TCNs) over the decades, highlighting the shift from accommodating State interests in migration control to adopting a rights‐based perspective. The Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU) bridges gaps between legally residing TCNs and EU citizens, limiting Member States’ discretion under EU migration law while broadening individuals’ rights. The proposed recast Long‐Term Residence Directive (2003/109) contains provisions to further enhance TCNs’ rights and transform them into rightful actors in European integration. However, the EU Council’s decision to halt negotiations temporarily blocks progress, showing that TCNs’ full inclusion in the European polity remains a difficult challenge.
Morano‐Foadi et al. (Sat,) studied this question.
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