Overview
- MEPs voted 408–184 to adopt a seven‑country ‘safe countries of origin’ list and 396–226 to endorse a framework for transfers to designated safe third countries.
- The list names Bangladesh, Colombia, Egypt, India, Kosovo, Morocco and Tunisia, with EU candidate countries also covered except in specified conflict situations.
- The new rules allow EU states to deny asylum and deport people from listed countries and to send applicants to third countries deemed safe, including those transited en route to Europe.
- Human Rights Watch condemned the changes and pointed to recent findings of abuses in countries on the list and in several EU candidates.
- The Washington Times reported the measures are scheduled to take effect in June, as political splits persisted, including a divided vote among Ireland’s MEPs.