The European Union has recently unveiled a list of seven countries it deems “safe.” This initiative aims to streamline the process of returning migrants by making it more challenging for citizens from these nations to claim asylum within the bloc.
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According to the European Commission, the proposed “safe countries of origin” include Kosovo, Bangladesh, Colombia, Egypt, India, Morocco, and Tunisia. This designation will facilitate quicker processing of asylum applications from these countries, establishing a presumption that such claims may not hold merit.
Magnus Brunner, the EU’s commissioner for migration, emphasized the urgency of this move, 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 EU had previously introduced a similar list back in 2015; however, the plan was ultimately set aside amid contentious debates surrounding Turkey’s inclusion. Now, with growing public pressure to manage irregular arrivals and streamline deportations—particularly as hard-right sentiments gain traction across various EU nations—the bloc is under intense scrutiny.
In response to these pressures, EU leaders convened in October, calling for urgent new legislation to enhance and expedite return processes while the commission was tasked with exploring “innovative” methods to combat irregular migration. Last month, the commission unveiled plans for a significant overhaul of the 27-nation bloc’s return system, paving the way for member states to establish migrant return centers outside of the EU.
Data indicates that currently, fewer than 20% of individuals ordered to leave the EU actually return to their home countries, underscoring the need for reform.
In Italy, the interior minister has hailed the new regulations as a victory for the government, which has long campaigned for stricter migration controls. Matteo Piantedosi remarked, “Italy has always worked both at a bilateral and multilateral level to obtain the revision of the regulation,” celebrating the inclusion of these countries as a significant achievement for the Italian administration.
Under the leadership of Giorgia Meloni, Italy’s hard-right government has committed to reducing irregular migration. However, its flagship initiative to create migrant centers in Albania has faced numerous legal hurdles and delays. Italian judges have consistently rejected proposals to detain migrants intercepted at sea in Albania, insisting instead that they be brought to Italy.
Italy hopes that migrants from designated safe countries could be relocated to these Albanian centers before repatriation, but legal debates over the classification of these nations have stalled the initiative. The government has revised its list of safe countries twice; meanwhile, Italian courts have referred critical legal questions to the European Court of Justice, which has yet to issue a ruling.
Piantedosi stated that the EU’s proposed regulation will allow for expedited border procedures, much like those already in place in Albania, for potential asylum seekers hailing from countries with an asylum approval rate of less than 20%.
In conclusion, as the European Union navigates the complexities of migration policy and public sentiment, these developments reflect a continued effort to strike a balance between humanitarian responsibilities and regulatory measures.
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International – Monitoring.
