The European Union and Refugees: Towards More Restrictive Asylum Policies in the European Union?

Research output: Working paper

Abstract

Several scholars have argued that European countries have decided to cooperate on asylum and migration matters at the EU level in order to develop more restrictive policies. In particular, it has been argued that European states have ‘venue-shopped’
to a new policy-venue in order to escape national constraints. This paper puts this argument to the test by assessing the extent to which the development of EU cooperation on asylum matters has indeed led to the adoption of more restrictive asylum standards. The paper argues that, actually, EU asylum cooperation has led to an overall increase in protection standards for asylum-seekers and refugees. This outcome is explained by two main factors: the increasing ‘judicialisation’ of asylum in the EU and institutional changes in the EU asylum policy area that have
strengthened the role of more ‘refugee-friendly’ institutions.
Original languageEnglish
PublisherUniversitat Pompeu Fabra
Pages19
Publication statusPublished - 2011

Publication series

NameGRITM Working Paper Series
PublisherGrup de Recerca Interdisciplinari en Immigració - UPF
No.8

Keywords

  • European Union
  • refugees
  • asylum policy
  • venue-shopping
  • Lisbon Treaty

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