Case C‑352/23 [Changu] ( i )

LF

v

Zamestnik-predsedatel na Darzhavna agentsia za bezhantsite

(Request for a preliminary ruling
from the Administrativen sad Sofia-grad)

Judgment of the Court (Ninth Chamber) of 12 September 2024

(Reference for a preliminary ruling – Asylum and immigration policy – Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union – Scope – Articles 1, 4 and 7 – Directive 2011/95/EU – Scope – Articles 2 and 3 – National protection on humanitarian grounds – Directive 2008/115/EC – Article 14 – No possibility of carrying out the removal – Certification – Rights of an illegally staying third-country national in the event of postponement of removal – Directive 2013/33/EU – Scope – Material Reception Conditions)

1. Border controls, asylum and immigration – Asylum policy – Refugee status or subsidiary protection status – Directive 2011/95 – More favourable standards – Grant to a third-country national of a right to stay for reasons which have no connection with the general scheme and objectives of that directive – Whether permissible – Condition – Right to stay clearly distinct from the international protection granted under that directive

   (European Parliament and Council Directive 2011/95, Arts 2(h) and 3)

   (see paragraphs 47-54, operative part 1)

2. Border controls, asylum and immigration – Immigration policy – Return of illegally staying third-country nationals – Directive 2008/115 – Postponement of removal – No possibility of carrying out the removal of a third-country national within the periods laid down in accordance with that directive – Guarantees pending removal – Obligation to provide that national with written confirmation of the temporary inability to enforce the return decision

   (European Parliament and Council Directive 2008/115, recital 12 and Arts 8, 9 and 14(2))

   (see paragraphs 58-61, operative part 2)

3. Questions referred for a preliminary ruling – Jurisdiction of the Court – Limits – Request for an interpretation of the Charter of Fundamental Rights – National legal situation governed by EU law – Jurisdiction of the Court

   (Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Art. 51(1); European Parliament and Council Directives 2008/115 and 2011/95)

   (see paragraphs 64-66)

4. Fundamental rights – Human dignity – Prohibition of torture and inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment – Respect for private and family life – Border controls, asylum and immigration – Immigration policy – Directive 2008/115 – Obligation on a Member State to grant, on compelling humanitarian grounds, a right to stay to a third-country national residing illegally in its territory – No obligation – Length of residence of that national in that territory – Irrelevant – Possibility for that national to rely, before his or her removal, on the rights guaranteed both by the Charter of Fundamental Rights and by Directives 2008/115 and 2013/33

   (Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Arts 1, 4, 7 and 51(2); European Parliament and Council Directives 2008/115, Art. 14(1)(b) and (d), 2013/32, Arts 9, 41(1) and 46(5) and (6), and 2013/33, Art 20(1)(c) and (5))

   (see paragraphs 67-79, operative part 3)

See the text of the decision.

( i ) The name of the present case is a fictitious name. It does not correspond to the real name of any party to the proceedings.