Memo: Proposal for a Council Directive aimed at extending to beneficiaries of international protection the possibility to obtain Long-Term Residence status

The conditions under which third-country nationals settled on a long-term basis in the Member States may acquire long-term residence status ("LTR status") are regulated in Council Directive 2003/109/EC of 25 November 2003 concerning the status of third-country nationals who are long-term residents ("LTR Directive"). Beneficiaries of international protection (i.e. refugees and beneficiaries of subsidiary protection) are currently excluded from the scope of the LTR Directive. This proposal amends the LTR Directive in order to extend to them the possibility to obtain LTR status subject to the same conditions applicable to any other third-country nationals.