EU approves migrant deportations to ‘safe’ third countries

 

EU approves migrant deportations to ‘safe’ third countries

On February 10, 2026, the European Parliament approved a significant overhaul of asylum rules, allowing member states to deport migrants to "safe" third countries. This move is a central part of a broader shift in EU migration policy to fast-track procedures and reduce unauthorized arrivals.

 

The key components of the new legislation include:

"Safe Third Country" Concept: EU member states can now reject asylum applications as inadmissible if an applicant could have received protection in a country outside the EU deemed "safe". Crucially, a person can be sent to a country with which they have no prior connection, as long as the EU or a member state has a formal agreement with that nation.

EU-Wide "Safe" List: A new common list designates Bangladesh, Colombia, Egypt, Kosovo, India, Morocco, and Tunisia as safe countries of origin. EU candidate countries are also presumed safe unless specific conflict or human rights conditions dictate otherwise.

Offshore Processing & "Return Hubs": The rules pave the way for "return hubs"—deportation centers located outside the EU—similar to the Italy-Albania model or agreements being explored with countries like Uganda.

Fast-Track Procedures: Asylum seekers from listed countries will face accelerated border procedures. For example, in Germany, applications may be declared "manifestly unfounded" within 10 working days.

Appeals and Deportation: Under the new rules, an appeal against a rejection does not automatically suspend deportation, meaning individuals could be removed while their legal challenge is still pending.

Humanitarian concerns have been raised by organizations like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, which argue the policy undermines individual assessments and risks sending vulnerable people to environments where they may face abuse.

The legislation is expected to be fully implemented by June 2026, though some provisions regarding the "safe country" list may apply sooner.

Would you like to see a list of the specific criteria the EU uses to determine if a non-EU country is officially "safe"?