Ms Camilla Ioli is a student at the University of Bologna, she has been working with Professor Federico Casolari on issues of international disaster law and has a strong record of research in the field of European Union politics. While at the ANU Centre for European Studies Ms Ioli will be working mainly on the comparison response of the European Union (‘EU’) (with a specific focus on Italy) and Australia to the arrival of asylum seekers by sea. Starting from the definition provided by the 1951 Geneva Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, she will examine the similarities and differences between the two legal systems and each government’s approach to the reception, and protection of asylum seekers.  Subsequently, she will be focusing on the philosophical basis of each policy and assess whether or not they are consistent with the relevant international legal rules. She chose to analyze Australia and the EU because they are both heavily affected by recent growth in people arriving by sea and seeking asylum, however, Australia and the EU have very different legal and policy responses. The aim of Ms Ioli’s research is first to analyze whether the Australian approach to dealing with asylum seekers who arrive by boat can or should inspire EU migration policies, taking into consideration  the compliance with EU and international law (e.g EU Charter of Human Rights, 1951 Refugee convention). Second, the work will assess whether or not the Australian approach could be influenced by the EU. The research will answer the following research questions: “how is the Australian and EU policy implicated and what are the practical implications for those that have to implement the policy and those that are subject to it”? What is the legal basis for both the EU and Australian response to asylum seekers who arrive by sea? Are the competing approaches consistent with international law?  Is it possible to highlight mutual influences between the two systems?    Home institution: University of Bologna Home profile: click here.