Dutch immigration rules requiring men or women wishing to bring in a foreign partner must earn at least 120% of the official minimum wage have been ruled illegal by the European court of justice in Luxemburg.

The case had been brought by a Moroccan man who has lived in the Netherlands since 1970 and was refused permission to bring in his wife.
The couple met in 1972 but she only applied to join him in Holland in 2006. Permission was refused because the man is now unemployed and does not meet the income requirements.
The Dutch justice ministry said it is studying the ruling before it will comment.
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