European Parliament approves changes to EU asylum rules

With 408 votes in favour, 184 against and 60 abstentions, MEPs backed the creation of a European list of safe countries of origin. The plenary also supported a new regulation on the application of the safe third country concept, with 396 votes in favour, 226 against and 30 abstentions.

Safe countries of origin

The new EU-wide list of safe countries of origin will speed up asylum applications from nationals of the countries included on the list: Bangladesh, Colombia, Egypt, Kosovo, India, Morocco and Tunisia. Once the regulation enters into force, it will be up to the asylum seeker to prove that this provision should not apply in their case due to a well-founded fear of persecution or the risk of serious harm if they are returned to their country.

Candidate countries

Candidate countries for EU membership will also be considered safe countries of origin unless specific circumstances, such as indiscriminate violence in the context of armed conflict, an asylum recognition rate for their nationals in the EU of more than 20%, or the existence of economic sanctions due to actions affecting fundamental rights and freedoms, indicate otherwise.

Suspension and national lists

The Commission will monitor the situation in the countries on the list and in candidate countries and will react if circumstances change. It may decide that a country is temporarily unsafe or propose its permanent removal from the list. Member States may designate other safe countries of origin at national level.

Application of the safe third country concept

EU countries may apply the safe third country concept to an asylum seeker who is not a national of a specific country and therefore declare their application inadmissible when one of the following three conditions is met:

• there is a link between the applicant and the third country, such as the presence of family members in the country, the applicant’s previous presence in the country or linguistic, cultural or similar ties;
• the applicant has transited through the third country on their way to the EU and could have applied for protection there; and
• the existence of an agreement with the third country at bilateral, multilateral or EU level for the admission of asylum seekers, excluding unaccompanied minors.

Agreements, at national or EU level, with a third country to apply the concept of safe third country must include a provision obliging the third country to examine the application for protection submitted by the persons concerned.

Early application of certain provisions

The designation of a third country as safe at both national and EU level may be made with exceptions for specific parts of its territory or clearly identifiable categories of persons. Both this provision and the use of accelerated border procedures for applicants whose nationality has an asylum recognition rate of less than 20% may be applied before the EU asylum legislation enters into force in June 2026.

Statements by the rapporteurs

Alessandro Ciriani (ECR, Italy) said: “The list of safe countries of origin marks a political turning point in the EU’s management of migration. This legislation removes ambiguity and sets a clear course: common rules, faster and more efficient procedures, protection of the right to asylum for those who are entitled to it, and a firm approach to tackling abuse. The EU is equipping itself with clear and enforceable rules based on shared responsibility.”

Lena Düpont (EPP, Germany) said: “With today’s vote on the concept of safe third countries, we are providing another key element for a credible and operational asylum system. By allowing manifestly unfounded asylum applications to be rejected more quickly and efficiently in future, we are speeding up asylum procedures, easing the burden on Member States’ systems and preventing people from being stuck in legal limbo for years.”

Next steps

The agreements still need to be formally adopted by the Council.

More information: European Parliament