On the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2024/1348 as regards the establishment of a list of safe countries of origin at Union level
AFET-PA-776982
Committee on Foreign Affairs · Rapporteur: Marco Tarquinio
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This draft opinion concerns a Commission proposal to establish an EU-wide list of safe countries of origin. The rapporteur argues that the proposed list is unjustified and would undermine asylum rights.¶¶ It proposes amendments to delete Bangladesh, Colombia, Egypt, India, Morocco and Tunisia from the list, and to add safeguards for vulnerable applicants and for countries experiencing serious risks.¶¶¶
Committee position. The Committee on Foreign Affairs proposes amendments to the Commission proposal, mainly to remove Bangladesh, Colombia, Egypt, India, Morocco and Tunisia from the EU list of safe countries of origin and to add safeguards.¶¶¶
Key points
- The Commission's proposed list of safe countries is not justified because of documented human rights violations in those countries.¶
- The proposal risks undermining the right to effective remedy and externalises EU protection obligations.¶
- The safe country concept shifts the burden of proof to the applicant and erodes individualised assessment.¶¶
- The Commission failed to publish criteria and sources for designations, undermining transparency and judicial review.¶¶
- The 20% EU-wide recognition rate threshold is unsubstantiated because it still represents significant protection needs and ignores regional or group-specific risks.¶¶¶
- EU candidate status alone is not sufficient to deem a country safe; the Commission should consider risks like systemic discrimination and democratic backsliding.¶¶
- The same methodology should apply to potential candidates like Kosovo.¶
- Bangladesh, Colombia, Egypt, India, Morocco and Tunisia should not be designated as safe countries of origin.¶
- Sources for designations must be reliable, up-to-date, transparent and accessible.¶
- A country should not be considered safe if it experiences a serious risk of breach of EU values, as defined in Article 2 TEU.¶¶
- Special attention should be given to applicants from safe countries who may have harder-to-detect claims, such as LGBTIQ persons and victims of gender-based violence.¶
Who is affected
- Asylum applicants from Bangladesh, Colombia, Egypt, India, Morocco and Tunisia: they would not be subject to the EU-wide safe country designation.¶¶¶
- Asylum applicants from Kosovo: the opinion supports designating Kosovo as a safe country of origin.¶
- Vulnerable groups such as LGBTIQ persons, victims of gender-based violence and torture: they require special attention in implementing the regulation.¶