EU declares three African countries, 4 others as safe countries of origin

The European Commission has proposed designating seven countries as “safe countries of origin,” aiming to expedite the processing of asylum applications from their nationals.

Under this proposal, asylum claims from individuals originating from these nations would be subject to accelerated procedures, with decisions expected within three months, compared to the standard six-month timeframe. The Commission justifies this move by citing low recognition rates for asylum-seekers from these countries, often below 5%. The countries listed are Bangladesh, Colombia, Egypt, India, Kosovo, Morocco and Tunisia.

However, the proposal has sparked criticism from human rights organizations. Amnesty International and other advocacy groups argue that the designation of these countries as “safe” overlooks the nuanced realities on the ground, potentially endangering vulnerable groups such as political dissidents and journalists.

In Germany, the principle of “safe countries of origin” is enshrined in the Basic Law and further specified in the Asylum Act. Accordingly, the federal government is required, among other things, to review the security situation in the “safe countries of origin” every two years and update the list accordingly if necessary.

Since 2015, alongside Senegal, Ghana, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia and Serbia, Kosovo, Albania, and Montenegro have also been classified as “safe countries of origin”. In 2023, the Republic of Moldova and Georgia were added to the list.

A law to designate Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco as “safe” was passed by the Bundestag in 2016 but subsequently failed to receive the necessary approval from the Bundesrat due to opposition, particularly from the Green Party, which raises concerns about human rights violations in these nations.

In the coalition agreement of 9 April 2025, the incoming governing parties agreed to expand the list of safe countries of origin and to initially classify Algeria, Morocco, India and Tunisia as safe.

Currently, relatively few asylum-seekers from “safe” countries of origin apply for asylum in Germany. The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) generally assumes that there is no risk of persecution relevant to asylum in these countries. Therefore, asylum applications from such countries are regularly rejected as “manifestly unfounded.”

Rules for asylum seekers from “safe countries of origin” in Germany:

• Asylum seekers from “safe countries of origin” usually remain in reception centers until a decision is made on their application.

• During the asylum procedure, these applicants are not permitted to work. Other asylum seekers may be allowed to work after three months.

• If an application is rejected as “manifestly unfounded,” the affected individual has only one week to leave Germany. For other rejected asylum-seekers, the departure period is typically 30 days.

• If the applicant wishes to appeal the decision, they have only one week to do so, compared to two weeks for other asylum-seekers.

As the EU and Germany move towards implementing these policy changes, it is crucial to balance the need for efficient asylum processing with the protection of human rights, advocates say. The designation of safe countries of origin should be based on comprehensive assessments of the situation in each country, taking into account the experiences of vulnerable groups and the potential risks they may face upon return.

For asylum-seekers from the affected countries, these developments may lead to shorter processing times but also to increased scrutiny and a higher likelihood of rejection. It is essential for applicants to provide detailed and compelling evidence of their need for protection to navigate the evolving asylum landscape in Europe, refugee support groups say.

Sola Jolaoso

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