Aiming to accelerate the processing of asylum applications, the European Parliament approved the creation of an EU list of safe countries of origin, along with rules on applying the concept of a safe third country.
The new list will allow for the fast-track processing of asylum claims from nationals of countries included in it. In addition, Member States will be able to apply the safe third country concept to applicants who are not nationals of a specific country, allowing their applications to be deemed inadmissible.
Rapporteur Alessandro Ciriani (ECR, Italy) described the list as “a political turning point in the EU’s management of migration.” Co-rapporteur Lena Düpont (EPP, Germany) stressed that “by defining safe third countries, we provide another structural tool for a functional and reliable asylum system.”
The new rules must now be approved by the Council of the European Union before entering into force.
