The ruling concerned the rules of the previous Integration Act, which was replaced by a new approach in 2023. Still, there are approximately 11,000 beneficiaries of international protection to whom the previous act applies. The ruling may also have impact on the new rules.
The CJEU ruled that Member States may impose the obligation to pass a civic integration examination. However, fines can only be exposed in exceptional circumstances. The court noted that the loan that beneficiaries were to take to pass the exam meant that all the integration costs had to be borne by them and put an unreasonable burden on beneficiaries. The Dutch Council of State still has to deliver its judgement in the specific case, that gave rise to the referral for preliminary ruling.