EU Designates Egypt as 'Safe Third Country' for Asylum Returns
The designation is part of an EU strategy to accelerate deportation procedures and reduce pressure on Europe’s asylum system.
Egypt has been officially designated by the European Union as a “safe third country” for the return of asylum seekers whose applications are rejected in Europe. The move, announced on April 10th, is part of the EU’s updated migration and asylum pact, which aims to streamline deportation procedures and reduce the number of failed asylum seekers remaining within the bloc.
Alongside Egypt, the EU also named India, Morocco, Tunisia, Georgia, and Senegal as countries considered “safe” for the purpose of returning migrants. The classification allows European authorities to transfer rejected asylum seekers to these countries, provided they passed through them en route to Europe and can be legally readmitted. Colombia was also named in related discussions, though not on the EU's final list of seven.
The designation is intended to expedite processing times and increase the currently low enforcement rate of deportation decisions. According to the EU Commission, only around 20% of rejected asylum seekers are successfully removed from EU territory under the current system.
Under the new policy, asylum applications from individuals who have passed through these designated countries may be subject to accelerated procedures, potentially concluding within three months instead of the current average of six.
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