BRUSSELS, Feb. 23, 2026 (chatnewstv.com) — The Council of the European Union has given final approval to legislation establishing the European Union’s first common list of “safe countries of origin” and revising rules on “safe third countries,” measures officials say will accelerate asylum processing and harmonise decisions across member states.
The EU-wide list designates Bangladesh, Colombia, Egypt, India, Kosovo, Morocco and Tunisia as safe countries of origin, meaning asylum applications from their nationals can be handled more quickly on the presumption that they are unlikely to qualify for international protection.
EU accession candidate countries will also be treated as safe by default unless they face armed conflict, EU sanctions linked to fundamental rights concerns, or if more than 20% of asylum claims by their citizens are granted by member states.
“This first-ever common EU list of safe countries of origin and the revised safe country concept will support faster, more consistent asylum procedures,” said Nicholas A. Ioannides, Cyprus’ deputy minister for migration and international protection.
“They contribute to the materialisation of the migration and asylum pact and mark a concrete step toward its implementation.”
Under the revised safe third country concept, EU states gain broader discretion to reject asylum claims as inadmissible if applicants could have sought protection in another non-EU country deemed safe. Authorities may apply the concept if an asylum seeker has a connection to such a country, transited through it en route to the EU, or if a formal arrangement exists between the EU and that country. A prior connection will no longer be mandatory.
Officials said the changes aim to reduce procedural disparities among member states and curb secondary movements within the bloc by aligning assessments of safety and admissibility.
The measures form part of the EU’s Migration and Asylum Pact, designed to create a more uniform asylum system with faster procedures and shared responsibility among member states. Except for some provisions that may be applied earlier, the new rules will take effect on June 12, 2026, alongside the rest of the pact.
Member states may continue to maintain national safe-country lists that include additional countries beyond the EU-wide designation.
