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Euronews
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
What are the EU's 'safe country' proposals for asylum seekers?
The European Commission plans to make it easier to send asylum seekers for processing beyond the bloc's borders by revising the concept of a "safe third country". Under current EU immigration rules, member states can transfer asylum seekers to a non-EU country that is considered safe, but only if the migrants have a connection with the nation in question, such as a previous visit or family connection. A new proposal, announced by the Commission last week as part of a wider overhaul of asylum procedures, said that requirement should be removed. Critics say this mirrors a plan by the previous UK government to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda, which was scrapped after being ruled unlawful by the country's Supreme Court. However, German MEP Lena Düpont, a member of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) who supports the proposal, argued that it sends the right message. Data from the European Commission showed that, every year, at least 400,000 foreign nationals without the right to stay in the EU are ordered to leave. However, only around 20% of them are effectively returned. Meanwhile, NGOs and migration experts said the proposal raises serious concerns about guaranteeing fundamental human rights, and could burden poorer nations. "Far from it being chaotic and arbitrary to send people to countries to which they have no connection, no prospects, no support, we also see that as fundamentally devastating on a human level," said Olivia Sundberg Diez, Amnesty International's EU advocate for migration and asylum. "It ignores a person's agency, and therefore we don't consider that it can be reasonable to expect them to remain there. This cannot be a sustainable solution," she added. The proposal follows another motion from the Commission called "Safe Origin Countries", which was put forward last month. It said that asylum requests of migrants coming from EU candidate countries, such as Turkey and Georgia, and seven other countries deemed "safe", could be fast-tracked as they are "unlikely to be successful". Some EU member states, including Italy and Greece, already have a national register of safe countries of origin, but the proposed EU list aims to support a more uniform system, according to the Commission. "The aim is to improve both the processing of asylum claims when they can be seen as manifestly unfounded for various reasons. And at the same time, make sure that those who do not have a right to stay within the European Union, but are already here, are effectively returned," said Düpont, the German MEP. Human rights groups have questioned whether some of the countries on the list should really be considered safe. For example, the list includes Egypt, where, according to Human Rights Watch, the authorities systematically detain and punish critics and activists, and persecute LGBTQ+ people. The Commission has presented the list as a "dynamic" one that can be expanded or modified over time, and said that nations that no longer fulfil the criteria will be removed. "This increases the risks of arbitrary, automatic detention in countries far from the EU," said Sundberg Diez of Amnesty. "We've already seen in the EU's existing engagement with countries like Tunisia [with which the EU has a memorandum of understanding] that it simply doesn't have the ability or the interest in monitoring and enforcing human rights protections." She stressed that the proposals the Commission has put forward since March all have the same intention, "which is making it harder for people to access safety in Europe and shifting that responsibility to offer protection to countries far from the bloc". Düpont disagreed with this take. "Both proposals share the aim to make asylum and return procedures more efficient, more effective, but of course, also more implementable for the member states, so that we can kind of bring back order and humanity to the common European asylum and migration policies," she said. The proposals will be heard by the European Parliament and the European Council. This will be followed by talks to agree on a common text, which will eventually become law. EU ministers meeting for a General Affairs Council in Brussels have begun a hearing on rule of law in Hungary under the framework of the EU's Article 7 process, as patience wears thin over recent legal initiatives in Budapest. Viktor Orbán's government's self-styled "spring clean" includes a draft transparency law, targeting foreign-funded media and NGOs, and the ban on the Budapest Pride, which are among key concerns that set to be raised in the hearing. Ahead of the meeting, 17 member states published a joint declaration denouncing the ban on Budapest's Pride march, claiming it violates EU law. "We are highly alarmed by these developments which run contrary to the fundamental values and human dignity, freedom, equality, and respect for human rights, as laid down in Article 2 of the Treaty of the European Union," the declaration said. The letter recalled that new Hungarian legislation allows fines to be imposed on participants and organisers of the Pride event and will also allow for the identification of participants with AI smart camera systems. "We call upon Hungary to revise these measures, to ensure the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all its citizens are respected and protected, thus complying with its international obligations," it read. The declaration was signed by Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Sweden and Spain. The signatories also called on the European Commission to make full use of its rule of law toolbox if Hungary does not revise the law. Hungary's EU minister János Bóka rejected the criticism on arriving at the meeting. "There is no such thing in Hungary as a Pride ban. At today's hearing, I will explain to my colleagues the constitutional and legal framework. I hope that after this discussion, my colleagues at the table will walk out with a more nuanced view of the Hungarian legislation," Bóka said. The Article 7 process began in 2018 when the European Parliament called for Hungary to be sanctioned because of alleged rule of law violations, especially in the field of justice and media freedom. The Council has discussed the issue seven times subsequently, but has never taken the step of triggering the next stage in the Article 7 process, in which member states would be called on vote on sanctions. Critics also fear a draft Hungarian bill titled "Transparency of Public Life', which was tabled in the Budapest parliament on 13 May, would offer the Hungarian government sweeping powers to crack down on the press and critical voices in civil society. The European Commission has asked Hungary to withdraw the bill, saying that if adopted, "it would constitute a serious breach of EU principles and law", according to a Commission spokesperson. Sweden's EU minister voiced concerns about backsliding on the rule of law, transparency, and "a crackdown on civil society and LGBTI rights" as she entered the meeting. "We have had seven years, seven hearings, and I will be very clear today that this cannot just continue unless we see a completely new attitude from the Hungarian side today, I think its time that we consider the next steps, as this is getting pointless to continue," Sweden's EU minister, Jessica Rosencrantz, told reporters. "The first phase of the Article 7 process has now been ongoing for a relatively long time, so no one can accuse us of not being patient," German EU minister Gunther Kirchbaum told reporters, adding "at a certain point we have to make up our minds about what is next". "I can tell you that my colleagues' patience is disappearing day by day," he said. Hungary's Bóka said that political hysteria surrounded the meeting but added that Hungary was ready for dialogue. On Monday, an EU diplomat said that ministers will not call for the deployment of sanctions under Article 7 against Hungary on Tuesday because they lack the requisite majority.
Los Angeles Times
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
EU weighs deporting migrants to countries they have no obvious connection to
BRUSSELS — The European Union is considering whether to deport migrants to countries they have no obvious connection to, in a drive to send away more people who are not permitted to stay. Rights groups say the 'safe third country' plans unveiled Tuesday contravene EU values and will burden poorer nations. Under the bloc's rules, people can be sent to countries deemed safe; they cannot be sent to those where they face the risk of physical harm or persecution. 'We can expect families being separated and people being deported without appropriate judicial review to places they don't even know,' said Silvia Carta, Advocacy Officer at PICUM, a collective of organizations that defends migrants' rights. The EU's executive branch, the European Commission, proposed that the 27 member countries should no longer feel bound to ensure that migrants have a link to a place they might be sent to. The commission, which proposes EU laws and ensures they are respected, said that unauthorized migrants could also be deemed to have a connection to a country if they crossed it safely on their way to Europe. This wouldn't apply to children traveling alone. Under the plans, people could be forcibly taken to one of these countries before their cases are heard, even if they appeal. The new draft rules, which must be endorsed by EU nations and the European Parliament before they can be enforced, were unveiled as a number of countries, including Britain and Italy, seek to set up 'return hubs' in third countries where rejected asylum seekers can be held until they can be deported. The commission said its plans will speed up asylum procedures and ease pressure on European administrations and facilities. EU law currently requires authorities to prove a link between applicants and the safe third country they might be sent to. 'Instead of spending endless time and resources offloading its responsibilities to other countries, the EU should invest in its own asylum systems,' said Amnesty International's EU advocate on migration and asylum, Olivia Sundberg Diez. 'Sending people to countries to which they have no connection, no support and no prospects, or may have only briefly transited through, is not only chaotic and arbitrary, but also devastating on a human level,' Diez said. More than 1 million people entered Europe a decade ago, sparking a political crisis over who should take responsibility for them. Tensions between European neighbors remain palpable. Migration laws have been constantly tightened ever since. Last month, the commission said that seven countries — Bangladesh, Colombia, Egypt, India, Kosovo, Morocco and Tunisia — should be designated 'safe third countries.' It said that migrants from those countries are unlikely to be granted asylum in Europe and should have their applications processed in three months rather than the usual six months so they can be sent home more quickly. Asylum applications by people coming from countries that are candidates to join the EU — Albania, Bosnia, Georgia, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Turkey — would also be fast-tracked. Cook writes for the Associated Press.
Straits Times
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
EU proposes allowing deportation of asylum seekers to third countries
Migrants lining up to eat at a camp on the Spanish island of Tenerife, in October 2024. PHOTO: REUTERS BRUSSELS - The European Union executive on May 20 proposed amending EU law to allow member states to deport rejected asylum seekers to countries with which they have no connection, a move rights groups say would undermine the right to asylum. The European Commission said the changes, which would let countries remove an asylum applicant if they could be sent to a third country deemed safe by the EU, would "accelerate asylum processes and reduce pressure on asylum systems". The proposal would lift the requirement for a connection between the asylum seeker and the safe third country. 'The revised Safe Third Country concept is another tool to help member states process asylum claims more efficiently, while fully respecting the EU's values and fundamental rights,' said EU internal affairs and migration commissioner Magnus Brunner. Anti-immigration sentiment has grown across the 27-nation EU since over a million people - mostly Syrian refugees - arrived via the Mediterranean in 2015, catching the bloc unprepared. Unable to agree on how to share responsibility, EU countries have primarily focused on returns and reducing arrivals. The amendments also stipulate that if asylum seekers appeal their rejected requests, they cannot automatically remain in EU territory during the appeals process. Amnesty International sharply criticised the proposal. 'Let's be clear: this revision would only further weaken access to asylum in Europe, diminish people's rights, and increase the risk of refoulement and widespread arbitrary detention in third countries - especially given the EU's increasingly evident inability to monitor and uphold human rights in its partner countries,' said Ms Olivia Sundberg Diez, Amnesty's EU advocate on migration and asylum. The proposal stems from the EU migration pact that was adopted in 2023 and is expected to take effect in 2026. However, it will require approval by the European Parliament and EU member governments. In April, the EU Commission included states such as Egypt and Tunisia - where human rights records have come under scrutiny - on a list of "safe countries" to which failed asylum seekers could be returned. A month earlier, it proposed that member states be allowed to set up centres in non-EU countries where migrants whose asylum claims were rejected would await deportation. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
EU proposes allowing deportation of asylum seekers to third countries
(Reuters) -The European Union executive on Tuesday proposed amending EU law to allow member states to deport rejected asylum seekers to countries with which they have no connection, a move rights groups say would undermine the right to asylum. The European Commission said the changes, which would let countries remove an asylum applicant if they could be sent to a third country deemed safe by the EU, would "accelerate asylum processes and reduce pressure on asylum systems". The proposal would lift the requirement for a connection between the asylum seeker and the safe third country. 'The revised Safe Third Country concept is another tool to help member states process asylum claims more efficiently, while fully respecting the EU's values and fundamental rights,' said EU internal affairs and migration commissioner Magnus Brunner. Anti-immigration sentiment has grown across the 27-nation EU since over a million people - mostly Syrian refugees - arrived via the Mediterranean in 2015, catching the bloc unprepared. Unable to agree on how to share responsibility, EU countries have primarily focused on returns and reducing arrivals. The amendments also stipulate that if asylum seekers appeal their rejected requests, they cannot automatically remain in EU territory during the appeals process. Amnesty International sharply criticised the proposal. 'Let's be clear: this revision would only further weaken access to asylum in Europe, diminish people's rights, and increase the risk of refoulement and widespread arbitrary detention in third countries - especially given the EU's increasingly evident inability to monitor and uphold human rights in its partner countries,' said Olivia Sundberg Diez, Amnesty's EU Advocate on Migration and Asylum. The proposal stems from the EU migration pact that was adopted in 2023 and is expected to take effect in 2026. However, it will require approval by the European Parliament and EU member governments. In April, the EU Commission included states such as Egypt and Tunisia - where human rights records have come under scrutiny - on a list of "safe countries" to which failed asylum seekers could be returned. A month earlier, it proposed that member states be allowed to set up centres in non-EU countries where migrants whose asylum claims were rejected would await deportation.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
The EU is weighing whether to deport migrants to countries they have no obvious connection to
BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union is considering whether to deport migrants to countries they have no obvious connection to, in a drive to send away more people who are not permitted to stay. Rights groups say the 'safe third country' plans unveiled Tuesday contravene EU values and will burden poorer nations. Under the bloc's rules, people can be sent to countries deemed safe, but not to those where they face the risk of physical harm or persecution. 'We can expect families being separated and people being deported without appropriate judicial review to places they don't even know,' said Silvia Carta, Advocacy Officer at PICUM, a collective of organizations that defends migrants' rights. The EU's executive branch, the European Commission, proposed that the 27 member countries should no longer feel bound to ensure that migrants have a link to a place they might be sent to. The commission, which proposes EU laws and ensures they are respected, said that unauthorized migrants could also be deemed to have a connection to a country if they crossed it safely on their way to Europe. This wouldn't apply to children traveling alone. Under the plans, people could be forcibly taken to one of these countries before their cases are heard, even if they appeal. The new draft rules, which must be endorsed by EU nations and the European Parliament to enter force, were unveiled as a number of countries including Britain and Italy seek to set up 'return hubs' in third countries where rejected asylum seekers can be held until they can be deported. The commission said its plans will speed up asylum procedures and ease pressure on European administrations and facilities. EU law currently requires authorities to prove a link between applicants and the safe third country they might be sent to. 'Instead of spending endless time and resources offloading its responsibilities to other countries, the EU should invest in its own asylum systems,' said Amnesty International's EU Advocate on Migration and Asylum, Olivia Sundberg Diez. 'Sending people to countries to which they have no connection, no support and no prospects, or may have only briefly transited through, is not only chaotic and arbitrary, but also devastating on a human level,' Diez said. More than 1 million people entered Europe a decade ago, sparking a political crisis over who should take responsibility for them. Tensions between European neighbors remain palpable. Migration laws have been constantly tightened ever since. Last month, the commission said that seven countries – Bangladesh, Colombia, Egypt, India, Kosovo, Morocco and Tunisia – should be designated 'safe third countries.' It said that migrants from those countries are unlikely to be granted asylum in Europe and should have their applications processed in 3 months rather than the usual 6 months so they can be sent home more quickly. Asylum applications by people coming from countries that are candidates to join the EU – Albania, Bosnia, Georgia, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Turkey – would also be fast-tracked. ___ Follow AP's global migration coverage at
