On asylum there is a hope of avoiding the worst.

Not that the world as a whole ever quite lived up to its fine rhetoric on asylum.

Most experts now agree that international rules on political asylum are inadequate.

Decisions on asylum should take months - not years.

Both these things contribute to a coherent policy on asylum.

They point in the right direction as to the future of European policy on asylum and migration.

There is still a long road ahead of us before we achieve a common policy on asylum.

Can it follow a progressive policy on asylum and refugees?

A European policy on asylum is long overdue, for example.

Those awaiting a court decision on asylum are also less likely to be freed.