EU countries agree on new asylum, deportation rules

The European Union (EU) countries have agreed on their final negotiating positions for new asylum rules, a shared EU list of safe countries of origin and a bloc-wide system for deporting migrants. 

According to a statement from the Council of the European Union, the agreement reached on Monday gives member states a united stance as they move into talks with the European Parliament on the final laws. 

Parliament has not adopted its own position yet, but recent drafts contain similar measures.

The outcome came despite opposition from more than 200 organisations, and the core proposals are expected to advance once negotiations begin.

EU countries also settled their plan for the 2026 “solidarity pool”, giving members a choice between helping Mediterranean states through 21,000 relocations, €420 million in funds, or other agreed support.

Under the new asylum approach, an EU country will be able to turn down an asylum claim if the applicant could have received protection in a country the EU considers safe.

“Denmark and a majority of EU member states have been advocating for asylum processing in safe third countries in order to remove the incentives to embark on dangerous journeys to the EU,” said Rasmus Stoklund, Denmark’s migration minister.

“We – member states – have agreed on a general approach to the revision of the ‘safe third country’ concept, which allows member states to make agreements with safe third countries on asylum processing outside Europe.”

Member states agreed that EU accession candidates, along with Bangladesh, Colombia, Egypt, India, Kosovo, Morocco and Tunisia, should be recognised as safe countries for asylum purposes.

The Council also endorsed its position on an EU-wide returns regulation, which introduces new obligations for people issued with deportation orders. 

Migrants who do not leave voluntarily could face prison for non-cooperation, and countries will be able to set up dedicated “return hubs”.

Olivia Sundberg Diez, EU advocate on migration and asylum at Amnesty International, said on Monday that the agreed positions reflect a “dehumanizing” direction similar to policies in the United States and labelled the hubs “cruel”.

“EU ministers’ position on the Return Regulation reveals the EU’s dogged and misguided insistence on ramping up deportations, raids, surveillance, and detention at any cost,” Sundberg said in a statement.

“These punitive measures amount to an unprecedented stripping of rights based on migration status and will leave more people in precarious situations and legal limbo.”

(Reuters)

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