Analysing the effectiveness of refugees protection through the applicability of the EU’s directive on long-term residents

In October 2022, High Commissioner Filippo Grandi highlighted the never-reached before number of 100 million refugees in the world, also underlying that the demand for responses that imply "refugee voices to be heard, and acted upon" has never been greater. In their quest for autonomy and a life in and with dignity, refugees’ rights must be ensured not only in the beginning of their flight from persecution or violence, but also, and most poignantly, along the way through their long journey home, be it in their country of origin or their host country. Protracted conflicts and violence equates to protracted situations of refugees who become long-term residents in the host country. In 2003, the EU approved a new regime of long-term residency of TCN who, after having lived in a Member State for a minimum of five years, should enjoy equal rights as those of Member States citizens in a wide range of economic and social matters. Interestingly, only in 2011, was this specific regime also applicable to refugees. Almost two decades after its entry into force – ten years in the situation of refugees – it was time to analyse the impact of this legal avenue in the lives of long-term migrants, including refugees, living in Portugal. The analysis conducted systematised how this EU legislation was transposed into the Portuguese migration and asylum legal norms and how it became effective in ensuring migrants well-being in Portugal. Fundamental in the research process was hearing, as underlined by Filippo Grandi, "migrant and refugee voices" and, only then, pointing to the advantages and pitfalls of a long-term residence status in order to ameliorate the first and surpass the latter not losing sight of the end-goal of ensuring refugees’ right to protection and autonomy.