The European Parliament has approved important changes to the European Union’s asylum system. These changes aim to make asylum procedures faster and more consistent across EU countries. The vote took place on Tuesday, 3 February, with a clear majority of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) supporting the reforms.
This means that the lawmakers agreed to create a common EU list of “safe countries of origin” and also approved new rules on how the “safe third country” concept should be applied. Supporters say these steps will help manage migration more effectively. Critics, however, warn that faster procedures must still protect human rights.
A New EU List of Safe Countries of Origin
Under the new rules, the EU will introduce a shared list of countries considered “safe.” This means that people coming from these countries will generally have their asylum applications processed more quickly.
The countries currently included on the list are Bangladesh, Colombia, Egypt, Kosovo, India, Morocco and Tunisia.
One explanation is mandatory here: when a country is labelled as “safe,” it does not mean that no one from that country can receive asylum. Instead, it means that the EU assumes most people from that country are not at serious risk of persecution or harm. If someone from a listed country applies for asylum, it will now be their responsibility to show why their case is different. They must prove they face a real risk, such as persecution because of their political views, religion, ethnicity, or other protected grounds under international law.
The goal is to speed up cases that are considered unlikely to qualify for protection, while still allowing genuine claims to be examined.
What About EU Candidate Countries?
The new rules also say that countries applying to join the EU — known as accession candidate countries — will usually be treated as safe countries of origin as well.
However, there are exceptions. A candidate country will not automatically be considered safe if:
- There is widespread violence, such as during an armed conflict.
- More than 20% of asylum applicants from that country are being recognised as refugees across the EU.
- The country is facing EU sanctions related to violations of fundamental rights and freedoms.
This approach reflects the EU’s view that countries seeking membership should generally respect democratic standards and human rights. At the same time, the rules allow flexibility if the situation in a country worsens.
Monitoring and Possible Suspension
The European Commission will closely monitor the countries on the safe list. If the situation changes — for example, if violence increases or human rights conditions deteriorate — the Commission can temporarily suspend a country’s “safe” status or propose removing it permanently.
EU member states will also still have the power to create their own national lists of additional safe countries. This means that while the EU list creates common standards, individual countries can go further if they wish.
Understanding the “Safe Third Country” Concept
Another key part of the reform concerns the “safe third country” rule. This rule allows an EU country to reject an asylum application if the person could have asked for protection in another safe country before reaching the EU. In simple terms, if someone passed through or has a strong connection to another safe country, they may be sent there instead.
Under the new regulation, EU countries can apply this rule in three main situations:
First, if the asylum seeker has a meaningful connection to the third country. This could include family members living there, having previously stayed there, or having strong cultural or linguistic ties.
Second, if the person travelled through a third country on the way to the EU and could have requested protection there.
Third, if there is a formal agreement between the EU (or an EU country) and the third country to accept asylum seekers.
Importantly, these agreements must require the third country to properly examine asylum claims and provide effective protection. The rules also protect unaccompanied minors, who cannot be returned under such agreements.
Early Application Before 2026
Although the full EU asylum reform package is set to apply from June 2026, some of these new measures can be used earlier.
For example, accelerated border procedures may apply to people from countries where fewer than 20% of asylum applicants are recognised as needing protection. In such cases, applications can be handled more quickly at the border.
Supporters argue this will reduce long waiting times and prevent people from being stuck in legal uncertainty for years.
Political Reactions
The reforms have been described as a major shift in EU migration policy.
Alessandro Ciriani, one of the rapporteurs on the legislation, called the vote a “political turning point.” He said the EU now has clearer and stronger rules to deal with migration while still protecting the right to asylum for those who truly need it.
Lena Düpont, another rapporteur, said the changes would make the asylum system more credible. According to her, rejecting clearly unfounded claims more quickly will ease pressure on member states and reduce long delays.
The debate around migration in Europe has intensified in recent years. According to official EU data, asylum applications increased significantly in 2022 and 2023, placing pressure on border countries such as Italy and Greece, as well as destination countries like Germany and France. Many governments have called for a more coordinated EU approach, which led to the broader Pact on Migration and Asylum agreed in 2024.
The Bigger Picture
These reforms are part of the EU’s long-term effort to balance two goals: protecting people who genuinely need international protection, and managing migration flows in an organised and fair way.
International law, including the 1951 Refugee Convention, guarantees the right to seek asylum. At the same time, EU governments argue that systems must prevent abuse and ensure that decisions are made quickly and consistently.
The success of these new rules will depend on how they are implemented in practice, how carefully countries are monitored, and whether fundamental rights are fully respected.
On the other hand, for asylum seekers and EU member states alike, the coming years will show whether these changes create a faster, fairer, and more reliable system.