Safe countries package - Related links

1. Background Information for the Opinion on COM(2025) 186 final

EU Legal and Policy Documents: 
Official legislative texts and core EU proposals relevant to the opinion.

1. Directive 2013/32/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 (EU-LEX, 29.06.2013)
2. Regulation (EU) 2024/1348 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 establishing a common procedure for international protection in the Union and repealing Directive 2013/32/EU (EU-LEX, 22.05.2024)
3. Common procedure for asylum (European Parliament, May 2024)
4. Explanatory Memorandum to COM(2025)186 - Amendment of Regulation (EU) 2024/1348 as regards the establishment of a list of safe countries of origin at Union level (EU Monitor, 16.04. 2025)
5. Regulation (EU) 2024/1347 on qualification for international protection (RefWorld, 22.05.2024)
6. Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2024/1348 as regards the application of the ‘safe third country’ concept (EU-LEX, 20.05.2025)

7. Regulation (EU) 2021/2303 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 December 2021 on the European Union Agency for Asylum and repealing Regulation (EU) No 439/2010 (EU-LEX,15.12.2021)

8. Reform of the asylum procedures directive In “Promoting our European Way of Life” (European Parliament, 2025)

International Conventions:
Treaties relevant to asylum, refugee rights, and human rights obligations.

• European Convention on Human Rights  (European Court of Human Rights, 1950)
• International Covenant for Civil and Political Rights (OHCHR, 1966)
• Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OHCHR, 1984)

Thematic Reports and Articles on Asylum concepts:
Analysis and explanations of ‘safe country of origin’ and ‘safe third country’ concepts.

• What is the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum? (IRC, 27.10.2023)
• Safe third country concept in the EU pact on migration and asylum (European Parliament, 9.12.2024)
• ‘Safe country of origin’ concept in EU+ countries (European Union Agency for Asylum, 9.06.2021)
• 'Safe country of origin' concept in EU asylum law (EU Parliament, 7.05.2025)
• Access to Procedures ‘Safe Third Countries’, 'Safe Countries of Origin' and 'Time Limits` (UNHCR, 2001)
• Section 13, The safe country of origin concept  (Refworld)
• Applying the Concept of Safe Countries in the Asylum Procedure (euaa,2022)
• Asylum Report 2025 ( euaa, 2025) 

Country-Specific Reports and Assessments:
Background on countries likely to be listed as ‘safe’.

• Kosovo
  • Kosovo Report 2024 (European Comission, 30.10.2024)
  • Freedom House-Kosovo Report 2024  (freedomhouse,2024)
  • OECD Public Integrity Indicators: Kosovo* Country Fact Sheet 2025 (oecd,2025)
• Bangladesh
  • COI Report-Bangladesh : Country Focus (COI, 11.07.2024)
  • United Nations Country Results Report Bangladesh 2024 (UN, 14.05.2025)
  • Article: Why the EU considers Egypt and Bangladesh safe countries of origin (eunews,17.04.2025)
  • Human Rights Watch World Report: Colombia events of 2024  (human rights watch, 2025)
• Colombia
  • Freedom House-Colombia Report 2024     (freedomhouse, 2024)
  • Country at a Glance 2025: Colombia (oecd,19.06.2025)
• Egypt
  • Egypt Country Report 2024 (BTI, 2024)
  • Human Rights Watch Egypt Report (2025)
  • Freedom House Egypt Report 2024  (2025)
• Morocco
  • Human Rights Watch: Morocco and Western Sahara
  • Freedom House Report 2024: Morocco   (2025)
  • Country Report Morocco (7.04.2025)
• India
  • Freedom House: India 2024 (2025)
  • Human Rights Watch: India (2024)

• Tunisia
  • Freedom House Country Report Tunisia 2024 (2025)
  • Human Rights Watch: Tunisia (2024)

NGO, Think Tank and Media Commentary:
Opinions, policy critiques, and analysis from NGOs, think tanks, and press.

• Commission adopts EU-wide list of ‘safe’ countries to fast-track asylum claims(euractiv,16.04.2025)
• New, mandatory EU 'safe' country of origin list – or, how to further circumvent the fundamental right to asylum (European Public Service Union, 03.06.2025)
• New EU proposal would undermine asylum rights further (epsu,12.06.2025)
• EU Commission proposes accelerating two elements of the Pact and establishing an EU list of safe countries of origin (European Migration Network, 16.04.2025)
• "Safe countries of origin: A safe concept?" (European Council on Refugees and Exiles,2015)
• The EU Pact on Migration and Asylum in light of the United Nations : Global Compact on Refugees (2021)
• The new EU asylum laws: taking rights half-seriously (Peers, 13.08.2024)
• European Union Policies on Onward and Secondary Movements of Asylum-seekers and Refugees (ceps, 2022)
• Politico: Europe cracks down on migration. The far right is cheering. (politico, 03.03.2025)
• European Policy Center : The New Pact on Migration and Asylum: Necessary progress, but not a magic bullet (epc, 25.03.2024)

2. Background Information for the Opinion on COM(2025) 259 final

EU Legislative and Treaty documents:
Legal texts that form the legal basis for asylum procedures, screening, and safe third country application.

• Regulation (EU) 2024/1351 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 on asylum and migration management, amending Regulations (EU) 2021/1147 and (EU) 2021/1060 and repealing Regulation (EU) No 604/2013  (EUR-LEX, 22.05.2024)
• Directive (EU) 2024/1346 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 laying down standards for the reception of applicants for international protection (EUR-LEX,22.05.2024)
• Screening regulation (Council of the European Union, 2024)
• Eurodac Regulation (EUR-LEX, 22.05.2024)
• Consolidated version of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union - PART THREE: UNION POLICIES AND INTERNAL ACTIONS - TITLE V: AREA OF FREEDOM, SECURITY AND JUSTICE - Chapter 2: Policies on border checks, asylum and immigration - Article 78 (ex Articles 63, points 1 and 2, and 64(2) TEC) (EUR-LEX, 9.05.2008)
• Treaty of the Functioning of the European Union (26.10.2012)

EU Policy and Pact Documents:
Key frameworks and policies guiding EU asylum reform and safe country practices.

• Migration and Asylum Pact (EU Council, 2025)
• PICUM Analysis: New Migration Pact series; Analysis of the Screening Regulation (PICUM, October 2024)
• EU Screening Regulation: closing gaps in border control while opening new protection challenges? (28.06.2024)
• Questions and Answers on the reform of the Common European Asylum System (CEAS) (refugee support aegean,2024)
• Global Refugee Compact (UN, 2018)

NGO, Academic & Think Tank Commentary:

• ECRE: Comments on the Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on Asylum and Migration Management, Amending Regulations (EU) 2021/1147 and (EU) 2021/1060 and Repealing Regulation (EU) No 604/2013    (ecre, 2024)
• EU: New ‘safe third country’ proposals cynical attempt to downgrade rights and offload asylum responsibilities (Amnesty International, 20.05.2025)
• Proposed reform of the Safe Third Country concept (European Council on Refugees and Exiles,21.05.2025)
• Outsourcing Asylum: Inside the EU’s Safe Third Country Shift (ISPI, 27.05.2025)
• New EU common approach on returns: Risks and human rights violations (euromedrights, 11.03.2025)
• DRAFTING GROUP ON THE SAFE THIRD COUNTRY CONCEPT (CDDH-PTS) (council of europe, 4.03.2025)
• Not in My Backyard! Outsourcing EU Asylum Procedures to Third Countries: A Challenge for the Common European Asylum System (Montaldo, 2025)
• News article: EU migration chief confirms acceleration of safe third country review and origin list (euractiv, 5.03.2025)