The European Union announced a list of seven countries it has officially designated as “safe countries of origin,” a move aimed at speeding up the deportation process for migrants and tightening asylum rules for their nationals.
The European Commission proposed that Kosovo, Bangladesh, Colombia, Egypt, India, Morocco, and Tunisia be added to the list of nations considered “inherently safe.” This designation allows EU member states to fast-track the review and rejection of asylum applications from citizens of these countries — under the assumption that such claims are generally unfounded.
“Many EU member states are struggling with severe delays in processing asylum requests. Therefore, any measure that can streamline decision-making is absolutely necessary,” said Magnus Brunner, the EU Commissioner for Migration.
The Commission also noted that countries aspiring to join the European Union could be eligible for “safe country” status as well — unless specific, localized conflict situations prevent that classification.
This isn’t the EU’s first attempt at such a policy. A similar plan was introduced in 2015 but was suspended following intense controversy, particularly over the inclusion of Turkey.
Brussels has been under increasing pressure to get a handle on irregular migration and to enforce deportations more effectively. Public frustration over migration issues has played a key role in the recent success of far-right parties across several EU nations.
