47Unlike Article 10(3)(a) of Directive 2003/86, Article 4(5) thereof is optional and, moreover, explicitly leaves to Member States a discretion for determining the minimum age of the sponsor and his or her spouse that they wish, as the case may be, to require for the legitimate aim of ensuring better integration and preventing forced marriages. Therefore, the disparities that follow from the fact that each Member State is free to define the date by reference to which the national authorities must assess whether the condition as to age is satisfied are perfectly reconcilable within the nature and purpose of Article 4(5) of Directive 2003/86, contrary to the position for Article 10(3)(a) thereof.
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