Brussels: In a significant move to streamline the processing of asylum requests, the European Parliament has adopted changes to the EU asylum procedure regulations. On Tuesday, the Parliament voted in favor of creating an EU list of safe countries of origin, with 408 votes in favor, 184 against, and 60 abstentions.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the newly endorsed regulation will allow for the fast-tracking of asylum requests from nationals of Bangladesh, Colombia, Egypt, Kosovo, India, Morocco, and Tunisia, identified as safe countries of origin. The regulation also encompasses the application of the safe third country concept, which received 396 votes in favor, 226 against, and 30 abstentions. Under these new rules, asylum seekers from these countries must prove a well-founded fear of persecution or risk of serious harm to prevent their applications from being expedited.
EU candidate countries will also be presumed safe unless circumstances such as armed conflict, high EU-wide asylum recognition rates, or economic sanctions indicate otherwise. The European Commission will keep a close watch on these countries and can temporarily or permanently remove a country from the list if conditions change.
The safe third country concept allows EU countries to declare an asylum application inadmissible if certain conditions are met, such as familial ties, previous presence, or cultural links to a third country. Agreements with third countries must ensure that they examine protection requests on merit.
These provisions, along with accelerated border procedures, can be applied before the full implementation of the EU asylum legislation in June 2026. The designations may include exceptions for specific territories or categories of persons.
Rapporteur Alessandro Ciriani (ECR, Italy) emphasized the political significance of the safe countries of origin list, stating that it marks a shift towards clear and enforceable rules in the EU's migration management. Rapporteur Lena Dpont (EPP, Germany) hailed the vote as a step towards a credible asylum system, enabling faster rejection of unfounded applications.
The agreements are pending formal adoption by the Council, marking the next phase in the EU's efforts to refine its asylum procedures.