The European Commission has recently designated countries such as Egypt and Tunisia as “safe countries” for the return of failed asylum seekers, despite ongoing human rights concerns in these nations. This decision has been met with criticism from human rights organizations, as it allows EU member states to expedite asylum applications from nationals of these countries on the basis that their claims are unlikely to succeed.
According to a report by Reuters, the updated list of “safe countries of origin” includes Bangladesh, Colombia, India, Kosovo, Morocco, Egypt, and Tunisia. While irregular migrant arrivals to the EU have decreased by 38% in the past year, immigration remains a contentious political issue across the 27 member states of the bloc.
Morocco, Tunisia, and Egypt have all experienced high numbers of irregular migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean in recent years. Critics of the Commission’s decision warn that designating countries as “safe” for return could lead to discrimination based on nationality and undermine fair asylum procedures.
Hussein Baoumi, a foreign policy expert at Amnesty International in Brussels, emphasized the importance of ensuring that vulnerable groups in each country, such as political opponents, LGBTI individuals, journalists, and human rights defenders, are protected. He also called for increased engagement with these countries to address human rights concerns.
The proposal to designate certain countries as “safe” forms part of an amendment to the EU’s Asylum Procedures Regulation, which is set to be enforced by 2026. The Commission has also introduced new migrant return rules, sparking concerns about potential human rights violations.
As the European Parliament and EU member governments consider the Commission’s proposal, it is crucial to prioritize the protection of vulnerable individuals and uphold the principles of fair asylum procedures. The integration of these policies into the broader migration pact adopted in 2023 must be done thoughtfully and with a focus on safeguarding the rights of all individuals seeking asylum in the EU.
