EU labels seven countries,incl. Morocco,India and Colombia,as ‘safe’ for migrant returns

The European Commission has designated seven countries — including Morocco,India and Colombia — as “safe countries of origin,” paving the way for accelerated deportations of failed asylum seekers,despite some ongoing concerns over human rights conditions.

Morocco,Egypt,and Tunisia have been major departure points for irregular migration to Europe,particularly across the central Mediterranean. The new list,which also includes India,Colombia,Bangladesh and Kosovo,allows EU member states to fast-track asylum applications from nationals of these countries,based on a presumption that their claims are unlikely to succeed. “Many member states are facing a significant backlog of asylum applications,so anything we can do now to support faster asylum decisions is essential,” said EU migration commissioner Magnus Brunner,adding that the system “always (ensures) that every asylum claim still receives an individual assessment and is subject to the scrutiny of national courts.”

But human rights organizations,including Amnesty International and EuroMed Rights,strongly criticized the move,warning that it risks undermining the principle of fair and individualized asylum procedures. “The concept of safe countries may lead to discrimination among refugees based on their nationality and detract from an individualized assessment,” said Amnesty’s Hussein Baoumi. Critics also argue the designation ignores the specific risks faced by vulnerable groups such as political dissidents,LGBTQ+ individuals,and journalists in those countries. The plan,part of broader EU migration reforms and amendment to the Asylum Procedures Regulation,set to take effect in 2026,must still be approved by the European Parliament and member states. It comes amid rising political pressure across Europe to curb irregular migration.