The EVIA project analysed Impact Assessment procedures and practices in the European Union and all Member States. It is based on 27 country studies, a detailed analysis of 22 concrete policy proposals in five countries and a survey amongst government officials and stakeholders in three countries and the EU. The EVIA policy paper provides the reader with an overview of the variety of approaches and opportunities from Impact Assessment, but also to reflect on constraints and barriers. It has been generally assumed that Member State governments largely pursue the objective of using IA as a strategic instrument for policy integration and sustainability. Our research shows, that only in a small number of jurisdictions is IA used as a strategic instrument for policy integration and sustainability. Instead IA is mostly seen as a tool to reduce administrative burden and the economic cost of regulation.