41Thus, it must be held that the right of residence of a third-country national under Article 20 TFEU, in his or her capacity as a family member of a Union citizen, is justified on the ground that such residence is necessary in order for that Union citizen to be able genuinely to enjoy the substance of the rights conferred by that status for as long as the relationship of dependency with that national persists. Although, admittedly, such a relationship of dependency disappears, as a rule, with the passage of time, it is not, in principle, intended to be of short duration. Consequently, the reason for the residence effected in the territory of a Member State, pursuant to Article 20 TFEU, is not such as to prevent the long-term residence of the third-country national concerned in the territory of that Member State. The relationship of dependency justifying such residence, the main characteristics of which have been set out in paragraphs 37 to 40 above, may extend over a considerable period and as regards, more specifically, a third-country national who is the parent of a child who is a citizen of the Union, in principle, until the child reaches the age of majority, or even beyond that age if the conditions are met.
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