Safe countries of origin: Proposed common EU list [EU Legislation in Progress]

Written by Joanna Apap and Anita Orav (2nd edition)

As part of the European Agenda on Migration, the Commission proposed a regulation on 9 September 2015 to establish a common EU list of safe countries of origin, initially comprising Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Serbia and Turkey. The aim is to fast-track asylum applications from citizens of these countries, which are considered ‘safe’ in full compliance with the criteria set out in the Asylum Procedures Directive 2013/32/EU and the principle of non-refoulement. Currently, lists are defined at national level and not coordinated, which can lead to different recognition rates of similar asylum applications, and thus create incentives for secondary movements and asylum-shopping.

Versions

February 2017: Safe countries of origin: Proposed common EU list (2nd edition)
October 2015: Safe countries of origin: Proposed common EU list (1st edition)

Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing an EU common list of safe countries of origin for the purposes of Directive 2013/32/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council on common procedures for granting and withdrawing international protection, and amending Directive 2013/32/EU

Committee responsible:

Rapporteur:

Shadow rapporteurs:

Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE)

Sylvie Guillaume (S&D, France)

Rachida Dati (EPP, France)

Jussi Halla-Aho (ECR, Finland)

Martina Anderson (GUE/NGL, UK)

Jean Lambert (Greens/EFA, UK)

Bodil Valero (Greens/EFA, Sweden)

Kristina Winberg (EFDD, Sweden)

Gilles Lebreton (ENF, France)