European Parliament endorses 'safe third country' concept for asylum seekers

BRUSSELS

The European Parliament on Tuesday endorsed the use of the "safe third country" concept for asylum seekers, a move aimed at speeding up the processing of asylum requests across the European Union.

With 396 MEPs in favor, 226 against, and 30 abstentions, lawmakers during a plenary session in Strasbourg, France, approved new rules allowing EU countries to declare asylum applications inadmissible if the applicant could have sought protection in another country.

The rules also set the framework for agreements with third countries to handle asylum requests.

Under the legislation, a third country may be considered "safe" if the asylum seeker has a connection to that country, such as family, cultural or linguistic ties, or if they previously transited through it and could have requested protection there.

Agreements may also be concluded at bilateral, multilateral, or EU levels, ensuring that third countries examine asylum requests on merit, with the exception of unaccompanied minors.

The legislation complements the EU-wide list of safe countries of origin, which includes Bangladesh, Colombia, Egypt, Kosovo, India, Morocco, and Tunisia.

Nationals of these countries can now have their asylum claims fast-tracked, unless they demonstrate a well-founded fear of persecution or serious harm.

EU accession candidate countries will also be presumed safe for their nationals unless specific circumstances, such as armed conflict or human rights violations, indicate otherwise.

The European Commission will monitor conditions in listed countries and may temporarily or permanently remove a country from the list if the situation changes.

Member states may also designate additional safe countries at the national level.

Earlier, at a press conference, Left group co-chair Manon Aubry warned against the vote on the "safe third country" and "safe country of origin" rules.

"Today will mark a dark day for human rights & the right to asylum. More than ever, this is a fortress. The EU will become a mass deportations machine," she said.

Certain provisions, including the designation of safe third countries and accelerated border procedures for applicants with low EU-wide recognition rates, can be applied before the legislation formally enters into force in June 2026.

The agreements still require formal adoption by the EU Council.