European Parliament Approves Stricter Asylum Rules
- 11.02.2026, 9:01
- 4,202
The new laws will go into effect in June.
MEPs have passed two laws tightening migration laws. They approved a list of "safe countries" and allowed asylum seekers to be sent to third countries to which they have no connection, writes Deutsche Welle.
The European Parliament (EP) has finally approved new, stricter rules regarding asylum in the EU. On Tuesday, February 10, at a plenary session in Strasbourg, 408 deputies supported the creation of a list of "safe third countries," which will now be considered Bangladesh, Colombia, Egypt, India, Kosovo, Morocco and Tunisia, according to the EP website.
The approval of the list of "safe countries" was opposed by 184 MEPs, with 60 more abstaining. The creation of such a list will affect asylum in the EU. Applications from the natives of these countries will now be processed faster and in most cases will be rejected.
In addition, safe countries will be considered candidates for EU membership (in particular, Serbia and Turkey), if these countries are not at war or serious threats to human rights. Such lists have so far been maintained by individual EU member states, including Germany.
"Rwandan" model: migrants will be able to be sent to third countries
In addition, the European Parliament approved a regulation on the application of the concept of "safe third countries". 396 MPs voted in favor, with 226 against and another 30 abstaining. The new rules will allow EU countries to deport refugees to asylum centers in countries to which they have nothing to do.
This model was previously tested by the UK and was called the "Rwandan" model. EU countries can enter into agreements with third countries to accept asylum seekers who can submit their applications there.
It is noted, among other things, that an asylum application in the EU can also be refused if the applicant has traveled through a third safe country and could have sought "effective protection" there, or if that country has an agreement with the EU to accept asylum seekers (except unaccompanied minors).
The new rules will come into force in June
The rules are part of the EU's migration and asylum package, which is due to come into force in June 2026. Some provisions may apply earlier. This decision still requires formal approval of the European Council.
It was reported earlier that Russia and Belarus are positioned as hostile states in the new EU migration strategy, and although they are not mentioned directly in the visa strategy, issuing visas to their citizens may become "impractical". At the same time, the EU has a readmission agreement with both Russia and Belarus, which means that both states are still considered as places where migrants can be returned.
So-called humanitarian visas can still be issued, but each case is considered on a case-by-case basis on the basis of exceptional personal circumstances. But EU member states are not obliged to issue humanitarian visas to asylum seekers, although they can be issued on an individual basis even if the normal conditions of entry are not met.
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