Brussels, 28/11/2008 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 27 November, European Immigration Ministers stated their intention to crack down on infringements of the right to free movement within the EU, such as sham marriages. “The Council was in full agreement to bring sanctions against abuses such as marriages of convenience,” said French Immigration Minister Brice Hortefeux after the meeting. Several member states, first and foremost Denmark, had complained about the consequences of the ruling delivered by the Court of Justice of the European Communities on 25 July (“Metock ruling”), since this would harm restrictive policies on family reunification in several EU countries (see EUROPE 9749). The Council called on the European Commission to carry out, by mid-December, an assessment on how directive 2004/38/EC on the free movement of persons was being applied. The Commission will then, at the start of 2009, be charged with publishing guidelines on the way the directive operates. These guidelines will deal with restrictions to freedom of movement in the event of abuse. The Council said it would consider “all other appropriate and necessary proposals and actions”. The Council also debated a proposal to extend the possibility of obtaining long-term resident status for those receiving international protection. “The Presidency noted that all delegations with one exception (in fact, Malta) agreed with the text of the directive,” say the Council conclusions. Negotiations on this matter will continue under Czech Presidency. (B.C./transl.rt)