EU presents list of 7 safe countries of origin for asylum seekers

Brussels – Kosovo, Bangladesh, Colombia, Egypt, India, Morocco, and Tunisia are to be considered safe third countries across the EU: This first EU-wide list was proposed by the EU Commission on Wednesday in Brussels. This is intended to expedite procedures, as asylum applications from these countries have low chances of success. National lists will continue to apply alongside this.

Some member states already have national lists of safe countries of origin. A mandatory EU list is intended to complement these and enable a more uniform application. Austria already has such a national list. In Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Mongolia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania, Ghana, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Georgia, Armenia, Benin, Senegal, Namibia, South Korea, and Uruguay are considered safe third countries for asylum seekers.

The EU also wants to implement two regulations of the asylum and migration pact, which will come into force in June 2026, earlier. Asylum applications from applicants that are likely unfounded should be processed more quickly.

Processing applications in three instead of six months

According to the Commission’s proposal, applications from nationals of safe countries of origin should be processed more quickly – with a maximum duration of three months instead of the usual six months. The Commission’s justification: Asylum applications from those countries have little chance of success. However, member states are still required to examine each asylum application individually, regardless of where the person comes from. The classification as a safe country of origin does not guarantee the safety of all nationals of that country.

Furthermore, the Commission emphasizes that EU candidate countries generally meet the criteria for classification as safe countries of origin. However, there are exceptions: An EU official mentioned war or arbitrary violence in conflict situations, as is currently the case in Ukraine, or sanctions imposed on the country by the Council (of EU countries).

According to the Commission, the list was created after an analysis by the EU asylum agency and other sources, including information from member states, UNHCR, and the European External Action Service. The EU list can be expanded or reviewed. The Commission could not yet say when the list would be expanded. It will be continuously evaluated. Criteria include the number of arrivals from these countries and the percentage of accepted asylum applications.

Parliament and member countries still need to agree

Furthermore, member states should be given the opportunity to apply an expedited border procedure to individuals from countries where an average of 20 percent or fewer applicants are granted international protection in the EU. The Commission’s proposal must now be approved by the EU Parliament and the Council of member countries. The reform of the EU asylum system includes numerous tightening of the existing rules. The goal is to curb irregular migration.

“Our proposal on safe countries of origin will accelerate national asylum procedures. It is important to me to support EU member states in conducting asylum procedures efficiently and more quickly,” said the responsible EU Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner (ÖVP). Many member states are struggling with a significant backlog in processing asylum applications. “Therefore, everything we can do now to support faster asylum decisions is crucial.” (16.04.2025)