The Recast Single Permit Directive: an assessment of its changes for the rights of third-country nationals

Originally adopted in 2011, the Single Permit Directive provides for a procedure with one single permit for both work and residence for third-country nationals in EU Member States. The Single Permit Directive also grants a uniform set of rights for single permit holders. In 2022, the European Commission proposed to recast it in order to make the procedure more attractive and efficient; to clarify the scope; to strengthen the equal treatment rights; and to better protect single permit holders against exploitation. This contribution will evaluate whether the Recast Single Permit Directive adopted in 2024 meets those expectations.