The European Union has moved to tighten its migration policies by classifying seven nations as “safe countries of origin,” a designation that will allow faster processing and likely rejection of asylum claims from their citizens. The list includes Kosovo, Bangladesh, Colombia, Egypt, India, Morocco, and Tunisia countries whose nationals will now face accelerated asylum procedures with decisions targeted within three months under the assumption their claims are unlikely to succeed.
European Commission spokesman Markus Lammert described this as a “dynamic list” that could be modified as circumstances change, with countries potentially being added or removed based on evolving conditions. The measure comes as part of broader EU efforts to reform asylum rules following the migration crisis of 2015-16, with officials noting that currently fewer than 20% of migrants ordered to leave are actually returned to their home countries.
The proposal has drawn strong support from Italy’s right-wing government, which has been particularly affected by Mediterranean migration flows. Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi hailed the inclusion of Bangladesh, Egypt and Tunisia as a policy victory, overcoming what he called “purely ideological political opposition.” However, the plan faces criticism from human rights groups, with EuroMed Rights warning it’s dangerous to label these nations as universally safe given documented rights abuses in some cases.
The new rules would apply to countries with asylum approval rates below 20% or those with EU candidate status, though exceptions would be made for nations at war like Ukraine. While the EU’s comprehensive Migration Pact isn’t set to take effect until June 2026, officials are pushing to implement these faster return procedures now. The proposal still requires approval from both the European Parliament and member states, setting the stage for potential political battles ahead.
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