The European Union has put forward a new proposal to return asylum seekers to seven countries designated as “safe”: Bangladesh, Colombia, Egypt, India, Kosovo, Morocco, and Tunisia. The list, currently under review, is expected to be finalized before June, according to reporting by Euractiv.
The initiative forms part of a broader effort to implement the EU’s Pact on Migration and Asylum, a legislative package adopted in 2024 and set to come into effect in 2026. The proposal would insert the list into an addendum to one of the regulation components of the pact, allowing member states to expedite the return of individuals whose asylum claims are deemed inadmissible due to the “safety” of their country of origin or transit.
New legal criteria for safe third countries under discussion
The Commission’s plan signals a shift in how the EU defines “safe third countries” under its asylum law. By expanding the framework for determining safety beyond EU borders, the legislation would enable more asylum seekers to be returned to non-EU states rather than remaining in the country where their claim was originally lodged.
This approach could lead to a more uniform and restrictive implementation of asylum processing across the bloc. Currently, EU member states apply divergent interpretations of what constitutes a “safe” country, leading to inconsistencies in acceptance rates and return policies.
The proposal also comes at a time when irregular migration to the EU has shown signs of declining, as reported in a previous article by NordiskPost. According to recent figures, the number of unauthorized entries into the bloc has decreased, partly due to tighter controls and enhanced cooperation with countries of origin and transit. This downward trend could provide a more favorable context for the EU’s efforts to formalize return procedures and redefine asylum eligibility.
Tighter return procedures in the pipeline
In tandem with the safe countries proposal, the European Commission has also introduced new binding rules for the return of irregular migrants. Announced in March 2025, the proposed regulation is now under deliberation in the European Parliament and Council. If adopted, it would streamline deportation procedures, making it easier and faster for member states to enforce return decisions.
The push comes amid heightened political pressure across Europe to reduce irregular migration and manage asylum flows more efficiently. According to Eurostat, over 1 million asylum applications were submitted across the EU in 2023, the highest number since the 2015-2016 refugee crisis.
However, as highlighted in our previous reporting, the overall trend in 2024 suggested a decline in irregular border crossings, indicating that the EU’s broader strategy of external border management may be yielding results.
Implications for border countries and future asylum policy
The new list and its integration into EU law are expected to have significant consequences for frontline states such as Italy, Greece, and Spain, which receive a high proportion of first-time asylum seekers. By redistributing responsibility and facilitating external transfers, the plan aims to relieve pressure on these countries’ asylum systems.
However, critics warn that designating countries as “safe” can overlook human rights concerns and individual risks faced by returnees. Advocacy groups have called for comprehensive assessments to ensure that returns do not violate the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits sending individuals back to places where they may face persecution or harm.
The European Commission has stated that the list is being developed in coordination with international law standards and in consultation with relevant human rights bodies.
As the EU edges closer to rolling out the new asylum and migration framework, the coming months will be key in determining how far the bloc is willing to go in externalizing migration control and tightening its return mechanisms.
