EU Lawmakers Approve Tougher Asylum Rules

The European Parliament has approved sweeping changes to the bloc’s asylum system, allowing for accelerated rejections of applications and the transfer of asylum seekers to countries deemed “safe” — even if applicants have little or no connection to those states.

The reforms amend the EU’s Asylum Procedures Regulation and form part of the broader Migration Pact adopted in 2023, which is set to take full effect in 2026. Final approval from the bloc’s 27 member governments is still required, but Tuesday’s vote signals a decisive shift toward a more restrictive migration policy.

Under the new framework, EU countries may reject asylum claims without a full review if applicants could have sought protection in a country listed as “safe.” The proposed list includes nations such as Egypt and Tunisia, whose human rights records have faced international scrutiny.

Supporters argue the changes are necessary to restore control over migration flows and streamline overwhelmed asylum systems. The reforms come after years of political pressure fueled by the 2015–16 migration crisis, when more than one million refugees and migrants — many fleeing war in Syria — arrived in Europe.

Critics, however, warn the measures could undermine the EU’s commitment to refugee protection under the 1951 Refugee Convention, which prohibits returning asylum seekers to places where they may face danger.

“This vote means people could have their applications rejected without proper review and be sent to countries where they have never set foot,” said Olivia Sundberg Diez of Amnesty International, calling the move a retreat from established asylum protections.

The legislation also moves the EU closer to enabling so-called “return hubs” outside the bloc — similar to arrangements pursued by Italy in Albania — although detailed rules on such mechanisms remain under negotiation.

French Green lawmaker Mélissa Camara warned that labeling certain third countries as safe could expose “hundreds of thousands of people to serious risk,” given what she described as worsening human rights conditions in some listed states.

The vote reflects the steady rise of anti-immigration sentiment across Europe over the past decade, which has bolstered far-right parties and pressured mainstream governments to adopt stricter migration policies focused on deterrence and returns.

With formal approval pending, the EU now stands on the cusp of one of the most significant overhauls of its asylum system in decades — one that could redefine how and where protection is granted across the continent.