EU Streamlines Asylum Processes with New ‘Safe Country’ Rules
The European Union has adopted new regulations designed to accelerate the processing of international protection applications, a move that has sparked debate among human rights organizations and political parties. These regulations, adopted in February 2026 as part of the Asylum and Migration Pact, establish criteria for identifying ‘safe countries of origin’ and ‘safe third countries,’ potentially leading to the automatic rejection of asylum applications from individuals originating from these nations.
What are ‘Safe Countries of Origin’?
The EU has compiled a list of countries currently considered safe, including Bangladesh, Colombia, Egypt, Kosovo, India, Morocco, and Tunisia. All EU candidate countries, excluding those currently experiencing war or under EU sanctions, are too included. Asylum seekers from these countries may have their applications automatically rejected, although member states retain the option to process applications under standard procedures.
The designation of these countries is based on asylum application acceptance rates. The EU considers countries with acceptance rates below 20 percent to have an unfounded need for protection.
The Concept of ‘Safe Third Countries’
Complementing the ‘safe country of origin’ regulations, the EU has also established the concept of ‘safe third countries.’ This allows for the outsourcing of asylum applications, meaning individuals arriving in the EU after transiting through a designated ‘safe third country’ could be returned to that country to apply for asylum there.
In some cases, individuals could even be sent to countries they have never visited, based on agreements between the EU and these third countries.
Criteria for ‘Safe Third Countries’
To be designated a ‘safe third country,’ the following criteria must be met: individuals must not face threats to their lives due to their origin, religion, nationality, or political opinions; asylum applications must be possible within that country; and the country must guarantee that individuals will not be returned to a state where they risk persecution, torture, or ill-treatment.
Concerns and Criticisms
While the regulations allow for appeals against rejection, the EU has agreed to accelerate appeal procedures, potentially leading to more negative outcomes, as noted by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
The selection of countries considered safe has also drawn criticism. For example, Egypt, listed as a safe country of origin, carried out at least 15 executions in the past year, according to Egyptian and international NGOs. Morocco, also on the list, criminalizes same-sex relations with potential prison sentences. These concerns, raised by NGOs and left-wing parties, did not prevent the adoption of the regulations, which were passed with a right-wing to far-right majority in the European Parliament.
EU Member State Response
EU member states have generally welcomed the new regulations, viewing them as a means to expedite asylum procedures.
The EU’s criteria, while rational, are considered expedient and do not fully account for individual cases where genuine danger exists. An asylum acceptance rate of less than 20 percent, in the EU’s view, does not necessarily indicate risk for individuals, but within that percentage are people who may be in real danger and whose applications may not be adequately processed.