Press Release: Refugees and other beneficiaries of international protection will soon be able to acquire long-term resident status in the EU, Brussels, 19 November 2010

Refugees and beneficiaries of subsidiary protection will be able to acquire long-term resident status in the member states of the EU on a similar basis to other third-country nationals legally living in the EU for more than five years. The Permanent Representatives Committee of the Council of the EU agreed on the necessary amendments to Directive 2003/109/EC, as previously negotiated with the rapporteur of the European Parliament.