The Civil Liberties Committee of the European Parliament has endorsed an update to EU asylum law that would establish a unified list of safe countries of origin and accelerate the processing of asylum claims. The proposal, which aligns with recommendations from the European Commission, was approved with 39 votes in favor, 25 against, and 8 abstentions.
The proposed EU-wide list includes Bangladesh, Colombia, Egypt, Kosovo, India, Morocco, and Tunisia as safe countries of origin. In addition to these nations, EU accession candidate countries will generally be considered safe unless there are specific concerns such as indiscriminate violence or armed conflict. The committee clarified that temporary protection measures or a high asylum recognition rate above 20% at the EU level could suspend a country’s designation as safe. Economic sanctions related to violations of fundamental rights and freedoms may also trigger suspension.
MEPs emphasized that the European Commission should monitor conditions in designated countries and respond if circumstances change. The Commission would have authority to temporarily suspend a country’s status as safe for all or part of its territory. Member states would still be able to designate additional safe countries at the national level unless those countries have been suspended by the EU.
Certain provisions allowing for accelerated border procedures for applicants from countries with low asylum recognition rates could take effect before the full legislation is implemented in June 2026. This early application aims to streamline decision-making while ensuring exceptions can be made for specific territories or groups.
Rapporteur Alessandro Ciriani (ECR, Italy) stated: “This proposal represents a crucial step towards providing the Union with clearer, more coherent and genuinely enforceable rules for managing migration flows. The aim is to offer member states appropriate tools that allow for swift decision-making, while upholding fundamental rights and abiding by international obligations. The debate has strengthened the text and helped clarify several sensitive aspects of the dossier. I hope that Parliament will soon be able to open negotiations with the Council on a solid and broadly acceptable basis. This is an important moment, and I trust that we will proceed with a sense of responsibility, so that Europe can adopt effective tools to manage migration flows while upholding the values we share.”
The next step involves seeking approval from Parliament in plenary session to begin negotiations with the Council on finalizing the legislation.
The Asylum Procedure Regulation adopted in May 2024 as part of broader migration reforms will come into force on June 12, 2026. This regulation provides criteria for designating safe countries both nationally and at EU level based on available information from sources such as member states’ data, the EU Asylum Agency, European External Action Service, and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. For applicants from designated safe countries—including unaccompanied minors—the review process is expected to be completed within three months unless individual circumstances indicate otherwise.
