EU lawmakers agree on migration policies easing deportations, drawing criticism

European Parliament Approves Controversial New Asylum Rules

European lawmakers have approved sweeping changes to the EU’s immigration policies, allowing member states to deny asylum and deport migrants from countries now designated as “safe” or who could have applied for asylum elsewhere before reaching Europe.

The vote, held Tuesday at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, ratifies decisions made last December in Brussels when EU ministers agreed to a list of safe countries. The measures passed with substantial majorities – 408-to-184 in favor of the safe countries of origin provision, and 396-to-226 for the safe third countries measure.

“We are delivering another key building block for a functioning, credible asylum system,” said Lena Düpont, a German lawmaker from the European People’s Party. “By enabling manifestly unfounded asylum applications to be rejected more quickly and efficiently in the future, we are speeding up asylum procedures, relieving the burden on member state systems, and helping people avoid being stuck in legal limbo for years.”

The new rules, set to take effect in June, designate Bangladesh, Colombia, Egypt, Kosovo, India, Morocco, and Tunisia as “safe countries of origin.” EU candidate countries would also generally be considered safe unless specific circumstances like armed conflict exist. The designation allows authorities to fast-track deportations and reject asylum claims from nationals of these countries.

The measures represent a significant shift in EU asylum policy, coming as part of the broader Pact on Migration and Asylum endorsed last May. That pact called for increasing deportations and establishing “return hubs” – effectively deportation centers for rejected asylum-seekers.

Critics argue the policy changes could endanger vulnerable populations. “So-called ‘safe countries of origin’ are not safe,” said Cecilia Strada, an Italian lawmaker in the Socialists and Democrats Group that opposed the designations. “This Parliament has passed resolutions on many of these countries, condemning deteriorations in their rule of law, democracy, and fundamental rights. Today’s vote ignores the reality of the facts.”

The vote highlights the growing influence of center-right and far-right coalitions in European immigration policy. These political groups have increasingly found common ground on restricting migration flows into the continent, responding to electoral pressures in multiple member states where immigration remains a contentious issue.

Human rights organizations have expressed alarm about the potential consequences. Meron Ameha Knikman, senior advisor for the International Rescue Committee, warned: “The new ‘safe third country’ rules are likely to force people to countries they may never have set foot in — places where they have no community, do not speak the language, and face a very real risk of abuse and exploitation.”

Some critics have drawn parallels to certain immigration policies implemented during the Trump administration in the United States, which allowed for deportations to countries with which migrants had limited or no connection.

French lawmaker Mélissa Camara raised concerns about the fundamental right to seek asylum, stating that “asylum could also de facto become impossible to obtain in many member states” under these new rules.

The policy changes come as Europe continues to grapple with migration pressures from multiple regions, including the Middle East, Africa, and more recently, displaced Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion. Unlike those from designated “safe” countries, Ukrainian refugees have generally received protected status throughout the EU.

The European Commission has defended the reforms as necessary to create a more efficient and sustainable asylum system. Proponents argue that by quickly filtering out claims deemed unfounded, resources can be better directed toward those with legitimate protection needs.

These new rules represent one of the most significant overhauls of the EU’s asylum system in years and signal a marked shift toward more restrictive immigration policies across the bloc, reflecting changing political dynamics within member states and the Parliament itself.