Here are the seven nations offering safe haven for refugees
The European Commission has proposed a list of safe third countries, including Kosovo, Bangladesh, Colombia, Egypt, India, Morocco, and Tunisia, with the aim of expediting asylum procedures and reducing the backlog in EU asylum systems. This move is part of a broader effort to curb irregular migration and asylum misuse by economic migrants.
The proposed list, published in April 2025, aims to presumptively declare the asylum claims of nationals from these countries as generally lacking merit, given these countries are deemed "safe." If approved, the list will apply uniformly across all EU Member States, allowing for the implementation of accelerated asylum procedures for applicants from these countries.
The proposal comes in response to political pressures within the EU to tighten migration controls due to rising public concern and the influence of hard-right parties favouring strict migration policies. By designating countries as safe, the EU intends to make misuse of asylum channels less attractive for economic migrants, effectively “demagnetizing” asylum as a migration strategy.
However, the list excludes countries experiencing conflicts or acute human rights crises, such as Ukraine, to ensure genuine refugees from unsafe countries retain access to protection. The list also ties into wider EU policies against irregular migration, including measures to disrupt human trafficking and smuggling networks.
The reform of the EU asylum system also seeks to supplement the national lists of safe countries of origin held by some member states. EU candidate countries generally meet the criteria for classification as safe countries of origin, according to the Commission. The EU list can be expanded or reviewed, according to the Commission, ensuring flexibility in response to changing circumstances.
The Commission's proposal for the reform of the EU asylum system aims to not only expedite asylum procedures and reduce backlog but also deter irregular migration and asylum misuse, facilitate faster returns for unfounded claims, and align with wider EU migration policies. The proposed list, if approved, will mark a significant step towards a more uniform and efficient EU asylum system.
[1] European Commission, Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the Union's list of safe countries of origin, 2025/0001 (COD) [2] European Asylum Support Office, Annual Report 2024 [3] European Parliament, Report on the Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the Union's list of safe countries of origin, 2025/0001 (COD) [4] European Commission, EU Pact on Migration and Asylum [5] European External Action Service, EU Strategy on Migration Management, 2023
The proposal for the Union's list of safe countries of origin, as published by the European Commission in April 2025, is a part of the broader politics and policy-and-legislation aimed at reducing irregular migration and asylum misuse, falling under the umbrella of general news. If approved, this list will be applied uniformly across all EU Member States, serving as a deterrent for economic migrants misusing asylum channels, while maintaining access for genuine refugees from countries experiencing conflicts or acute human rights crises. This reform aligns with the EU's wider strategies against irregular migration, as outlined in documents such as the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum, the European External Action Service's EU Strategy on Migration Management, and the annual reports of the European Asylum Support Office and the European Parliament.
