With 39 votes in favour, 25 against and 8 abstentions, MEPs in the Civil Liberties Committee on Wednesday endorsed the designation of an EU-wide list of safe countries of origin, in line with the Commission proposal. The list would include: Bangladesh, Colombia, Egypt, Kosovo, India, Morocco and Tunisia.

EU accession candidate countries are also considered safe countries of origin, unless specific circumstances indicate otherwise, e.g. indiscriminate violence in the context of an armed conflict. In their amendments, MEPs clarify that activation of temporary protection should be considered a circumstance that would suspend the designation of an EU candidate country as a safe country of origin. Other suspensive circumstances would include an EU-wide asylum recognition rate of above 20%, or economic sanctions linked to violations of fundamental rights and freedoms.

Suspension and national lists

MEPs insist that the Commission should monitor the situation in countries designated or…