Europe has the most advanced regional protection regime in the world. The predicted impact of this body of norms, including the new Common European Asylum System, has been widely identified as one that will have a 'ripple effect' beyond the EU. However, very few studies have noted the fact that this regime has already influenced the law and practice of states around the world, for some time. The purpose of this book is to gather evidence that emulation is happening (if it is), to explore the extent and identify the processes through which it is happening, and to examine the implications of these findings. A review of seven case studies reveals all but one of these cases provides clear evidence of emulation at some point in time. The EU protection regime, which has been most influenced by the European Court of Human Rights, is 'naturally' evolving transnationally and spreading internationally.
1. Introduction: European refugee law and transnational emulation Hélène Lambert; 2. Migrating laws? The 'plagiaristic dialogue' between Europe and Australia Jane McAdam; 3. European influence on asylum practices in Latin America: accelerated procedures in Colombia, Ecuador, Panama and Venezuela David Cantor; 4. A safe country to emulate? Canada and the European refugee Audrey Macklin; 5. Between East and West: the case of Israel Dallal Stevens; 6. Is Switzerland an EU member state? Asylum law harmonization through the backdoor Vincent Chetail and Céline Bauloz; 7. The impact of European refugee law on regional, sub-regional and national planes in Africa Marina Sharpe; 8. Stealth emulation: the United States and European protection norms Maryellen Fullerton; 9. The vanishing refugee: how EU asylum law blurs the specificity of refugee protection Jean-François Durieux; 10. Conclusion: Europe's normative power in refugee law Hélène Lambert.
