Commission welcomes the adoption by the European Parliament of the safe third country concept and the first safe countries of origin list

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission.

The European Commission welcomes today’s adoption by the European Parliament of the new rules facilitating Member States’ application of the safe third country concept and the first EU list of safe countries of origin. The new rules will further strengthen the EU asylum system, making asylum processing faster and more efficient for Member States. Part of the Pact on Migration and Asylum, they will contribute to a system that is fair and firm, while ensuring the protection of fundamental rights.

The first EU list of safe countries of origin will allow Member States to pursue a more uniform approach to asylum applications of nationals from countries on the EU list whose claims are likely to be unfounded. By means of accelerated procedures based on an individual assessment, Member States will be able to process such asylum claims faster and more efficiently. A country of origin can be considered safe on the basis of an assessment based on a range of relevant sources, including from the European Union Agency for Asylum, UNHCR, the European External Action Service, and Member States. 

The safe third country concept allows Member States to consider an asylum application inadmissible when applicants could receive effective protection in a third country that is considered safe for them. With the new rules, a connection between the applicant and the safe third country will no longer be mandatory to apply the concept. Under EU law, third countries can be considered safe only when their national systems can process applications and provide effective protection where needed, ensuring protection against refoulement and absence of risks of persecution, threat to life, or inhuman or degrading treatment.

The Pact on Migration and Asylum is the bedrock of the EU’s asylum and migration policy, ensuring stronger external border protection, strict rules against abuse and a balance between responsibility and solidarity. With today’s step, Member States are better equipped to effectively manage migration in the EU. The Commission will continue to support Member States in advancing with the Pact’s implementation as its operationalisation and further development require a continued focus in the next years.

Next steps

The Regulations must now be formally adopted by the Council before they enter into force, which will happen 20 days after their publication in the Official Journal of the EU. The new rules are frontloading parts of the Pact on Migration and Asylum, which will apply as of June 2026.

Background

The EU list of safe countries of origin includes EU candidate countries, which are considered to meet the criteria to be designated as safe countries of origin as part of their EU membership path, as well as Kosovo, Bangladesh, Colombia, Egypt, India, Morocco and Tunisia.

Member States will now have more flexibility to apply the safe third country concept following the criteria set in the Asylum Procedure Regulation. Member States may choose to apply the concept where there is a connection with the safe third country, when the applicant transited through a safe country before reaching the EU, or where there is an agreement or arrangement with a safe country. Strong safeguards remain in place.

For more information

Pact on Migration and Asylum

Proposal for amending Regulation 2024/1348 as regards the establishment of a list of safe countries of origin at Union level

Commission welcomes political agreement on new rules to facilitate the application of the safe third country concept