Brussels, 28/09/2009 (Agence Europe) - The European Union recently put an end, for the short term at least, to the controversy over forced marriages, which prompted Denmark and Ireland to call for changes to the directive on the freedom of movement of people. At their latest meeting, the home affairs ministers adopted conclusions which reiterate that the directive allows the member states to adopt "the necessary measures" to put a stop to abuses and fraud. The Council also called on the member states to carry out an exchange of information on cases of abuse, and to report to the Commission on "systematic trends" observed. "If systematic trends are detected, the Council will revert to the issue, based on suggestions from the Commission on how these trends might be addressed through the most appropriate means", the conclusions stipulate. Denmark, which inspired these conclusions, is therefore satisfied, even though it is still of the opinion that the issue of changes to the directive will certainly crop up again in the longer term. For its part, Ireland states that it will keep a close eye on the situation. In July 2008, the Court of Justice of the European Communities returned the Metock ruling, in which the Luxembourg magistrates stated that the foreign ("non-Community") spouse of a European citizen could circulate and travel with that citizen within the Union, without having previously lived legally in a member state (EUROPE 9716). This ruling provoked the wrath of several countries, particularly Denmark and Ireland, which argued the risk of increased numbers of marriages of convenience in Europe and therefore called for the directive to be revised (EUROPE 9728). As the European Commission took the view that there were more disadvantages than advantages in revising this directive, it chose another option. In order to put an end to this situation, the Commission therefore adopted guidelines on 2 July, designed to improve the transposition and application of the 2004 directive on the right of citizens of the Union and their families to move and travel freely throughout the territory of the member states (EUROPE 9934). (B.C./transl.fl)