On December 18, 2025, the European Parliament and the Council of the EU reached a political agreement on the creation of the first ever common list of “safe countries of origin” in the history of the European Union. This decision was an important step in the implementation of the Migration and Asylum Pact, adopted in 2024 and fully effective from June 2026. The new list will speed up the processing of asylum applications from citizens of certain countries and simplify the procedure for their return to their home countries.
The initial list of “safe countries of origin” includes seven countries: Bangladesh, Colombia, Egypt, India, Kosovo, Morocco, and Tunisia.
In addition, countries that are candidates for EU membership (such as Ukraine, Moldova, Albania, and others) are automatically considered safe, except in cases of armed conflict, EU sanctions, or a high level of recognition of asylum applications (more than 20% at the Union level).
The list may be expanded in the future through the normal legislative procedure. The European Commission will monitor the situation in these countries and has the right to temporarily suspend the status of any of them if conditions deteriorate.
Asylum applications from citizens of countries on the list will be fast-tracked. Applicants will have to prove why the presumption of safety does not apply in their case.
This will allow EU countries to reject unfounded applications more quickly and organize the return of migrants.
National lists of safe countries remain in place: member states will be able to add additional countries to them, but not those excluded from the European list.
The agreement also expands the concept of “safe third countries,” allowing applications to be rejected if a migrant has passed through such a country or has ties to it. This paves the way for the creation of “return centers” outside the EU and the conclusion of bilateral agreements with third countries.
Representatives of the European Parliament and the Council of the EU emphasize that the new rules will make the migration system “more efficient, flexible, and harmonized.” European Parliament President Roberta Metsola noted that this will strengthen borders and speed up procedures for countries under migration pressure.
The agreement still requires formal approval by the European Parliament and the Council of the EU, but some provisions (such as accelerated procedures at the border) may be applied ahead of schedule.
This decision reflects the EU’s general policy of tightening migration policy amid continuing pressure on its external borders. In the future, the list and rules will be regularly reviewed, taking into account the human rights situation and migration flows.