Migrants originating from Bangladesh, Colombia, Morocco, and Tunisia are not expected to receive asylum approval in Europe, according to the EU’s administrative body. They recommended expediting these individuals' application processes to facilitate quicker returns to their countries of origin.
The European Commission stated that seven nations—including Egypt, India, and Kosovo—should be classified as "safe third countries." This designation would expedite applications for international protection from these countries' citizens, completing them within three months instead of the standard timeframe of six months.
Altogether, over 200,000 individuals from these nations submitted applications for asylum during the previous year.
One year ago, European Union member states approved comprehensive changes to the union’s ineffective asylum framework. These new regulations aimed to address the problems that had been dividing the 27 countries ever since more than one million migrants entered Europe in 2015, with many of them escaping conflict in Syria and Iraq.
However, the updated regulations will only come into effect by no later than June 2026. The commission is eager to expedite processes, such as accelerating deportation timelines, to alleviate strain on centers for receiving migrants.
" numerous countries within the European Union are dealing with a substantial accumulation of pending asylum requests, thus any measures we can implement currently to facilitate quicker adjudication of these cases are crucial," stated EU Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner.
Brunner stated that the commission’s suggestion "has the potential to assist member states in addressing claims at a faster pace." He emphasized that every applicant would undergo an individual evaluation and "would come under the review of national courts," allowing for appeals as necessary.
The proposal needs approval from both the EU member states and the European Parliament prior to taking effect.
Beneath this provision, asylum claims submitted by individuals originating from nations seeking EU membership—namely Albania, Bosnia, Georgia, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Turkey—would likewise undergo expedited processing.
Additionally, EU member states might expedite processes for individuals arriving from nations where 20% or fewer applications receive international protection within Europe. These countries, known as "safe third countries," have a recognition rate of only 5% or lower.