The European Union has introduced new asylum measures aimed at expediting the processing of applications from designated safe countries.

The current list of safe countries includes Kosovo, Bangladesh, Colombia, Egypt, India, Morocco, and Tunisia, but this designation requires approval from the European Parliament and all EU member states.

Human rights organizations have raised concerns about labeling these countries as safe, citing documented rights abuses and inadequate protections for citizens and migrants.

Italy, under Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, has been a strong advocate for these reforms, particularly in light of the significant influx of migrants since 2015.

While Italy supports the initiative, France has taken a more cautious approach, reflecting political sensitivities among EU countries regarding the proposal.

Critics argue that the designation of these countries as safe is misleading and poses risks to migrants, especially given the potential for human rights violations.

The European Court of Justice has previously stated that a country being declared safe does not guarantee safety for all individuals, influencing legal actions regarding migrant treatment.

The EU Commission acknowledged challenges in human rights in countries like Egypt and Tunisia, noting that all listed countries have low asylum recognition rates despite many citizens applying for asylum in Europe.

Markus Lammert from the European Commission emphasized that the list of safe countries will be dynamic and subject to review based on evolving safety assessments.

Several EU countries have pressured the European Commission to reduce migrant arrivals and facilitate the removal processes for rejected migrants.

Currently, less than 20% of individuals ordered to leave the EU are successfully returned to their home countries, highlighting significant challenges in the return system.

The criteria for determining safe countries are currently under review by the European Court of Justice, with a ruling expected in the coming months.