Human Rights Advocates Rally at European Parliament Before Asylum Vote
Human rights activists gathered outside the European Parliament in Brussels on April 10, 2024, in anticipation of a crucial vote concerning the EU’s Pact on Asylum and Migration.
In an effort to accelerate the repatriation of migrants, the European Union recently released a list of seven nations it deems "safe." This designation aims to complicate the asylum process for individuals from these countries.
The European Commission announced that it intends to classify Kosovo, Bangladesh, Colombia, Egypt, India, Morocco, and Tunisia as "safe countries of origin." The decision has faced backlash from various human rights organizations, which argue it could lead to a quicker dismissal of asylum claims from these nations based on an assumption that such claims are unwarranted.
Magnus Brunner, the European Union’s migration commissioner, emphasized the urgent need to address the significant backlog of asylum applications among member states. “Any measures we can take now to expedite asylum decisions are critical,” he stated.
With rising public discontent regarding migration issues and the electoral successes of far-right parties in multiple countries, Brussels has been pressured to take a stronger stance on irregular migration and streamline deportations.
On the same day, the Commission mentioned that potential EU candidate countries could also qualify as safe territories. However, there are exceptions to this designation, particularly during times of conflict, as seen with Ukraine.
In 2015, the EU attempted to publish a similar list but retracted it following contentious debates about Turkey’s inclusion as a candidate for membership.
The recent list can be updated over time based on countries that currently have a high volume of applicants seeking asylum. For instance, several EU member states already maintain their own lists of "safe" countries; France’s list includes Mongolia, Serbia, and Cape Verde.
The goal of this EU initiative is to standardize rules and ensure all member states operate under the same criteria. While member nations can add new countries to the EU’s roster, they cannot remove any existing entries. Individual assessment of asylum cases will continue to be mandatory, ensuring that established protections are upheld and that applicants aren’t outright denied.
Before it can take effect, the plan must receive endorsement from both the European Parliament and member states. However, it has already attracted criticism from human rights activists.
The organization EuroMed Rights expressed concern, noting that several countries on the EU’s list are known to have documented human rights violations and inadequate protections for their citizens and migrants. "Labeling them as ‘safe’ is both misleading and perilous," they posted on social media.
According to the EU border agency Frontex, irregular border crossings into the European Union decreased by 38%, falling to 239,000 last year after nearly a decade of record-high numbers in 2023.
Following strong calls led by countries like Italy, Denmark, and the Netherlands for new legislation focusing on expedited returns, less than 20% of individuals ordered to leave the EU actually return to their home country. Last month, the European Commission proposed a reform of the EU’s return system, allowing for the establishment of migrant return centers outside of Europe.
On Wednesday, Italy’s Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi declared the EU’s latest initiatives a triumph for the Italian government.
