EU Classifies Seven Nations as Safe for Migrant Returns

The European Union has labeled Kosovo, Bangladesh, Colombia, Egypt, India, Morocco, and Tunisia as safe countries, facilitating faster processing of asylum claims from these nations. The initiative seeks to reform asylum regulations and address past challenges in returning irregular migrants, although it faces opposition from human rights groups highlighting potential abuses.

The European Union (EU) has officially recognized seven countries as "safe" for origin migrants, a significant move designed to streamline the asylum application process and enhance the speed of returning migrants. The nations identified include Kosovo, Bangladesh, Colombia, Egypt, India, Morocco, and Tunisia. By fast-tracking asylum claims from these countries, the EU projects that these applications will be processed within three months, with the assumption that the majority are unlikely to receive asylum.

Markus Lammert from the European Commission confirmed that this designation creates a "dynamic list," which can be updated to reflect changes in circumstances surrounding the safety of these countries. The EU aims to address the growing challenges it has faced since the influx of irregular migration peaked in 2015-2016. While a migration and asylum pact was reached last year, its full implementation won't start until June 2026, prompting officials to advocate for immediate measures to expedite processing.

The strategy entails allowing EU member states to hasten the return of migrants from designated safe countries and those where fewer than one in five applicants gain protection. Candidate countries seeking EU membership are presumed safe unless exceptional circumstances prevail, such as ongoing conflicts, similar to the situation faced by Ukraine.

Italy has been one of the most vocal supporters of this reform, particularly after experiencing a surge in migrant arrivals. Other European nations like Germany have taken steps to limit irregular migration through heightened border controls. With the establishment of an agreed-upon EU list of safe nations, Italy anticipates a decrease in asylum seekers targeting nations with more lenient policies.

The Italian government, led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, welcomed the inclusion of Bangladesh, Egypt, and Tunisia in this new classification. Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi argued that this decision marked a triumph for Italy amidst oppositional views. However, legal challenges have arisen; Italian judges have halted the government's efforts to detain migrants from Egypt and Bangladesh in Albania, asserting that these nations cannot be deemed universally safe due to ongoing human rights concerns.

The proposals require approval from both the European Parliament and EU member states, and some human rights organizations are raising alarms regarding the implications of referring to these seven nations as safe. EuroMed Rights cautioned that this label can be misleading, emphasizing the existence of human rights violations and insufficient protections for both citizens and migrants within these countries.

In response to the concerns, Lammert emphasized that EU laws mandate the individual assessment of each asylum application, reiterating the commitment to uphold fundamental human rights throughout the asylum process.