BRUSSELS (ANP) – Asylum applications from individuals hailing from designated safe countries are set to be processed within a three-month timeframe. Moreover, applications from these asylum seekers may be reviewed via a border procedure, which requires them to await the outcome outside the EU.
Earlier, Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof expressed the Netherlands’ desire for more countries to be classified as safe.
According to a spokesperson for the European Commission, “The EU’s list of safe countries of origin is a dynamic document.” This means the list can be updated or expanded. Countries that fail to meet the necessary criteria for safe status can be removed. The Commission regularly evaluates the countries on this list.
The Commission also suggests that member states may expedite the processing of asylum applications from individuals originating from countries where the likelihood of receiving asylum is low. Specifically, if applicants face less than a 20 percent chance of being granted asylum, an expedited three-month procedure can be implemented.
By utilizing a unified list of safe countries across all EU nations, the Commission believes that the attractiveness of certain EU countries diminishes for asylum seekers from nations considered unsafe.
The proposal still awaits approval from both member states and the European Parliament.
(April 16, 2025)
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