The European Union has designated seven countries as 'safe' for fast-tracking migrant returns, aiming to reform asylum procedures amidst rising irregular migration.
EU Classifies Seven Nations as Safe to Expedite Migrant Returns
EU Classifies Seven Nations as Safe to Expedite Migrant Returns
The EU’s new strategy aims to streamline asylum processes and tackle irregular migrations from designated safe nations.
In a significant policy shift, the European Union has identified seven countries deemed 'safe' for origin of migrants, which aims to expedite asylum applications from these regions. Citizens from Kosovo, Bangladesh, Colombia, Egypt, India, Morocco, and Tunisia will now face a streamlined process where their claims are fast-tracked within three months, premised on the likelihood of their applications being denied.
Markus Lammert from the European Commission explained that this initiative would consist of a "dynamic list," which can be revised over time to reflect changes in the safety status of countries. Countries may be added, suspended, or removed based on their conditions.
The move comes in response to a significant rise in irregular migration patterns witnessed since 2015-16, prompting the EU to reform its asylum regulations. Although a comprehensive migration and asylum agreement is set to take effect in June 2026, EU leaders have pressed for immediate actions to accelerate the processing of migrant returns. Recent statistics revealed that less than 20% of individuals ordered to return to their home countries have followed through.
Under the new protocol, EU members will have the authority to expedite applications from individuals hailing from these identified safe nations, as well as those from countries where protection is granted to only a minority of applicants. Countries seeking EU membership are also automatically classified as safe, although exemptions could apply to nations embroiled in conflict, exemplified by Ukraine.
Italy has been at the forefront of advocating for these reforms, grappling with a considerable influx of migrants since the 2015 crisis. Countries like Germany have also implemented strict border controls to manage irregular migration flows. While Italy already maintains lists of safe countries, the EU’s collective list is projected to deter asylum seekers from pursuing claims in nations with more lenient regulations.
The inclusion of Morocco, Tunisia, and Egypt is particularly timely, given the surge of irregular migrants departing from these countries for Mediterranean crossings. This list has been met with approval from Italy's right-wing administration. Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi praised the inclusion of Bangladesh and Tunisia as a victory against ideological opposition in governance.
However, legal hurdles faced by the Italian government over its attempts to relocate migrants to detention centers in Albania underscore the complexity surrounding these designations. The European Court of Justice ruled against such measures, emphasizing that areas within these nations must be deemed safe for all demographic groups.
As the proposal now heads to the European Parliament and member states for approval, dissent arises from human rights groups. EuroMed Rights, a coalition of such organizations, termed the classification of these seven nations as misleading, asserting that several have a documented history of human rights violations and inadequate protections for both nationals and migrants.
In response, Lammert maintained that EU laws necessitate thorough individual assessments of asylum applications, reiterating the commitment to fundamental human rights within the framework of the new policy.
