A comparative analysis of the asylum policy of seven European governments

It will ask whether harmonization under the new regimes that have been discussed in these papers continues to mean convergence towards a lowest common denominator and it will explore some of the constraints on policy formulation in this area. The purpose of the paper is to link the various themes raised throughout this volume, asking in particular whether the political shifts that have been discussed have resulted in changes in policy and practice at both national and European levels and to what extent national policy is dictated by the EU and its most powerful members.