EU Publishes List of Seven ‘Safe’ Countries, Tightening Asylum Regulations

BRUSSELS, 16 April 2025 — The European Union has released a list of seven countries it now considers “safe countries of origin,” as part of a broader effort to tighten asylum rules and accelerate the return of migrants whose claims are deemed unfounded.

The European Commission announced on Wednesday that it proposes to designate Kosovo, Bangladesh, Colombia, Egypt, India, Morocco, and Tunisia as safe for return. The designation implies that citizens from these nations will face a presumption that their asylum claims lack credibility, thus allowing member states to expedite application processing and increase deportation rates.

The move, however, has drawn sharp criticism from human rights organisations, which argue that the countries listed continue to face significant issues related to civil liberties, political instability, and inadequate protection of vulnerable groups.

Magnus Brunner, the EU’s Commissioner for Migration, defended the proposal, stating:

“Many member states are facing a significant backlog of asylum applications, so anything we can do now to support faster asylum decisions is essential.”

The initiative reflects mounting pressure on Brussels to curb irregular migration, amid a surge in support for far-right parties across Europe that have capitalised on growing anti-migrant sentiment. Several member states — including Italy, Denmark, and the Netherlands — have led calls for firmer action on returns and border control.

Under the proposed rules, asylum applications will still be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, with protections in place for individuals who may face harm upon return. The “safe country” status does not mean automatic rejection, but it does shift the burden of proof onto the applicant to demonstrate genuine risk.

The Commission clarified that EU candidate countries, such as those in the Western Balkans, would in principle also qualify for the “safe” designation — though exceptions will apply, for instance in the case of nations affected by conflict, like Ukraine.

This latest list is not the first of its kind. A similar proposal in 2015 was shelved due to fierce disagreements among EU governments, particularly over whether to include Turkey, which remains a contentious candidate for EU accession.

According to the Commission, the list will be subject to periodic review and reflects countries from which a significant number of asylum applicants originate. While individual EU countries already maintain their own safe country lists — France, for example, includes Mongolia, Serbia, and Cape Verde — the aim now is to standardise criteria across the bloc.

Notably, while member states will have the freedom to add countries to the EU-approved list, they will not be permitted to remove any.

Human rights advocacy groups have strongly opposed the move. EuroMed Rights, a coalition of civil society organisations, warned that several of the listed countries have “documented rights abuses and limited protections” for both citizens and migrants.

“Labelling them ‘safe’ is misleading — and dangerous,” the group stated on social media.

The announcement comes against the backdrop of declining irregular entries into the EU. According to Frontex, the EU border agency, illegal border crossings fell by 38 percent in 2024 to around 239,000, following a post-pandemic peak in 2023.

Still, EU statistics show that fewer than 20 percent of migrants ordered to leave are actually returned to their home countries — a figure Brussels is keen to improve through legal and logistical reforms.

Last month, the Commission unveiled proposals to restructure the bloc’s migrant return system, including the potential establishment of extraterritorial return centres outside EU borders — a highly controversial plan drawing comparisons to Australia’s offshore processing model.

Italy, a strong advocate for stricter migration control, welcomed the latest EU move. Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi described it as “a success for the Italian government,” pointing to Rome’s broader strategy of externalising border controls and discouraging sea crossings across the Mediterranean.

The proposed regulation still requires approval from the European Parliament and EU member states before it can be enforced. However, with migration remaining a polarising issue ahead of upcoming elections in several EU countries, it is expected to be debated intensely in the coming months.