difference btw short stay visa&family reunification visa

[alooma]

hello guys

let me start by saying this is a very informative forum with a lot of clued up people with the right answers to questions,e.g(Directive/2004/38/EC
Guru) am chuffed!!!!!!!

now this bring me to my question what is the different btw a short stay schengen visa and a family reunification visa?

am asking this question because of the recent refusal of my neighbours wife's family reunification visa to accompany her husband to Spain by the Spanish embassy in London.

the reason for the refusal was that,her husband a British citizen dose not have an address in Spain and she was in UK illegally.

from what i understand by Directive/2004/38/EC the above requirement should not be requested?

please can anybody clarify me on this issue please?