EU adopts bloc-wide ‘safe countries’ list in asylum overhaul

LONDON

The EU has formally adopted its first EU-wide list of “safe countries of origin” and revised the “safe third country” concept, as part of efforts to streamline its asylum system.

The measures, approved by the Council, are part of the EU’s migration and asylum pact, described in a statement as “the EU’s agenda to manage migration more effectively and establish a common asylum system aimed at ensuring efficient and more uniform procedures, as well as fair burden sharing between member states.”

Under the new legislation, Bangladesh, Colombia, Egypt, India, Kosovo, Morocco and Tunisia are designated as safe countries of origin at the EU level.

The move is intended to help member states process applications for international protection more quickly when submitted by nationals of these countries.

“The EU-wide list of safe countries of origin will help member states deal more efficiently with applications for international protection lodged by nationals of those countries," the Council said.

EU accession candidate countries will also be considered safe unless there is international or internal armed conflict, the EU has imposed restrictive measures over fundamental rights and freedoms, or more than 20% of asylum applications from their citizens are approved.

Officials say the common list “will ensure greater consistency across member states in the assessment of applications from designated safe countries of origin and contribute to faster processing of applications.”

Member states will still be able to maintain their own national lists with additional countries they consider safe.

The Council also revised the safe third country concept, which allows governments to reject an asylum application as inadmissible without examining its substance if the applicant could have sought protection in a non-EU country deemed safe.

“The revised safe third country concept will give member states more flexibility for rejecting asylum applications as inadmissible,” the Council said.

Under the changes, countries may apply the concept where there is a connection between the applicant and the safe third country, where the applicant transited through it, or where there is an agreement with that country.

The rules will take effect on June 12, the Council statement said.