05/06/2001 (Agence Europe) - The last Justice and Home Affairs Council showed timidity in not reaching a concrete decision on the directive relating to family reunification (see EUROPE of 30 May). Such is the reaction of MEPs Anna Teron and Adeline Hazan, both from the Socialist Group, who believe the "right to family life should be applied to all immigrants in a lawful situation". In their view, "unless we legislate at Union level, we shall encourage illegal entrants". We recall that, last September, the EP approved the directive on family reunification, stressing that the Member States are entitled to have more favourable national rules (see EUROPE of 8 September, 2000). Furthermore, the European Coordination Bureau recently warned against this directive being brought into question, given the wish expressed by some Member States to make major changes to it (see EUROPE of 7/8 May 2001).