T. (Advocate General's Opinion)

(Request for a preliminary ruling from the Verwaltungsgerichtshof Baden-Württemberg (Germany))

(Area of freedom, security and justice — Asylum and immigration — Rules on minimum standards for the qualification and status of third-country nationals or stateless persons as refugees and the content of the protection granted — Revocation of a residence permit under Article 24(1) of Directive 2004/83/EC — Conditions — Concept of compelling reasons of national security or public order — Participation of a recognised refugee in the activities of a terrorist organisation)

Apart from making provision for declaring refugee status the Geneva Convention also confers rights and gives rise to obligations. Thus, Article 2 states that every refugee has duties to the country in which he finds himself, which require in particular that he conforms to its laws and regulations as well as to measures taken for the maintenance of public order.

The Geneva Convention lays down a number of minimum rights that apply to a person who qualifies as a refugee. Contracting States are required to afford to refugees lawfully staying in their territory rights such as: (i) to engage in wage-earning employment; ( 4 ) (ii) to receive the same treatment as nationals in respect of remuneration (including family allowances) and social security; ( 5 ) (iii) to choose a place of residence and to move freely within that territory subject to any regulations applicable to aliens generally in the same circumstances. ( 6 )

The Convention contains no express provision on the revocation of refugee status. ( 7 )