(3 June, 2025) The European Commission has proposed a new EU-wide list of so-called “safe countries of origin” as part of its efforts to speed up asylum procedures under the EU Migration and Asylum Pact. EPSU is concerned about the impact of this proposal on the rights of people seeking protection in Europe.
The proposed list includes countries such as Tunisia, Türkiye, India, and Morocco. If adopted, asylum seekers from these countries might be subject to faster procedures, have less time to prove their case, and deported before their appeal is heard. This risks violating the core principle of non-refoulement – the obligation not to send people back to places where they face danger.
The concept of a “safe country of origin” assumes that people from those countries do not need protection. This ignores the lived reality of many. In Tunisia, for example, trade unionists, political opponents, and journalists face harassment and detention. In Türkiye, trade union members – including from EPSU affiliates – continue to be unlawfully arrested and tried. The ITUC Global Rights Index continues to classify both countries as hostile to trade union freedoms.
The proposal also raises serious concerns about transparency. There is no public evidence that human rights organisations were consulted in developing the list, and the studies cited by the European Commission are not publicly available.
Rather than creating fast-track procedures that cut corners on people’s rights, Europe must uphold fair and individual asylum processes, in line with international law. Staff shortages in national asylum systems contribute to delays and poor treatment – strengthening those services must be part of the solution.
Read the full reaction here.
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