Immigrants and Asylum Seekers in the EU Multi-Level System. New Dynamics of Integration post Lisbon?

Abstract

This panel seeks to explore the EU’s role in and impact on immigration and asylum policies in Europe. More than ten years after the communitarisaton of this policy field with the Treaty of Amsterdam, the panel tries to analyse the consequences both for domestic and EU policy-making. Which impact do we observe as far as the content of these policies is concerned and how has the interaction of actors, such as Member States, civil society organisations and EU Institutions changed over time? Some authors assumed that new modes of interaction could make policy making in this sovereignty sensitive area more efficient and bring about policy output that possibly strengthens immigrant’s rights. Accordingly, we ask the question whether scholars can approve this assumption, now that institutional capabilities of supranational actors were enhanced progressively with the treaty of Amsterdam and the treaty of Lisbon. Furthermore, we intent to address the question of how EU policies regulate immigration and asylum and what kind of EU policies are established in the multi level system. Can we reasonably speak of a common European immigration policy and if so whose interests does this policy serve? To give a comprehensive picture of these developments, the panel will integrate both quantitative comparisons between all EU Member States as well as intensive qualitative case studies of specific countries (e.g. Germany and Portugal) and directives.

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