In a bold move, the European Union has officially labeled seven nations as "safe countries of origin" to streamline asylum procedures. This list includes Kosovo, Bangladesh, Colombia, Egypt, India, Morocco, and Tunisia. When migrants apply for asylum from these nations, their claims can now be fast-tracked, with decisions expected within three months due to a presumed likelihood of application rejection.
Commission spokesperson Markus Lammert emphasized that this list is not set in stone; it will be evaluated regularly, allowing countries to be added or removed based on current safety conditions. With a history of migrant surges since 2015-16, the EU has been eager to reform its asylum process and has called for quicker returns of those whose claims don’t hold up.
For countries with fewer than 20% success rates for asylum seekers, EU members can expedite processing. Notably, countries vying for EU membership will also be classified as safe, provided they don’t face war-related crises. This decision has been particularly welcomed by Italian leaders who seek to manage increasing immigration rates effectively.
However, these proposals have sparked controversy, with some human rights organizations warning against labeling these nations as safe, citing documented rights abuses. The European Court of Justice has stated that countries cannot be considered safe if they fail to protect certain regions and minorities.
While the new asylum rules await approval from the European Parliament and member states, the debate surrounding migrant safety and rights remains heated.
