What is a ‘Safe country of origin’?International Law (the Geneva Convention) and EU law (the Asylum Procedures Directive) consider a country safe when there is a democratic system and generally and consistently: ÎNo persecution Î No torture or inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment ÎNo threat of violence ÎNo armed conflictThe Copenhagen CriteriaWhen EU Member States decide to make a country a candidate for EU membership, they check they fulfill the ‘Copenhagen criteria’ of guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights and respect for and protection of minorities. Candidates for EU membership are thus usually ‘safe’. No automatic rejectionsAny citizen has the right to apply for asylum. Applications will continue to be assessed on an individual, case-by-case basis. Strong safeguards, including the right to appeal, remain in place. Fighting abuses of EU and national asylum systemsAround 17% of the total number of applications lodged in the EU come from citizens of the 7 countries on the proposed list.Applications from nationals of countries on the Safe List will be fast-tracked, allowing for faster returns if the individual assessments of the applications confirm no right of asylum.This will: Îincrease the efficiency of asylum systems. Î deter attempts to abuse the European Asylum System Î allow Member States to devote greater resources to protection for persons in need AN EU ‘SAFE COUNTRIES OF ORIGIN’ LISTAn EU List:12 EU countries* already have national lists of safe countries of origin. The Commission is proposing one, common EU list designating as ‘safe’.Albania: Î7.8% of applications were well-founded in 2014 Î 8 Member States already designate as a safe country of origin ÎAn EU candidate countryBosnia and Herzegovina: Î4.6% of applications were well-founded in 2014 Î 9 Member States already designate as a safe country of originThe Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia: Î0.9% of applications were well-founded in 2014 Î 7 Member States already designate as a safe country of origin ÎAn EU candidate countryKosovo: Î6.3% of applications were well-founded in 2014 Î 6 Member States already designate as a safe country of originMontenegro: Î3% of applications were well-founded in 2014 Î 9 Member States already designate as a safe country of origin ÎAn EU candidate countrySerbia: Î1.8% of applications were well-founded in 2014 Î 9 Member States already designate as a safe country of origin ÎAn EU candidate countryTurkey: Î23.1% of applications were well-founded in 2014 Î 1 Member State already designates as a safe country of origin ÎAn EU candidate country+ Others may be added in the future* Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Germany, France, Ireland, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Slovakia and the United Kingdom.The Commission can suspend a country from the list immediately, in case of a sudden deterioration of the situation in that country whi\ch would mean it could no longer be considered ‘safe’.
Current National ListsMember StateCountry considered as safeAustriaAlbania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Serbia, EEA Countries/Switzerland, Canada, Australia, Ne\w ZealandBelgiumAlbania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Serbia, IndiaBulgariaAlbania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Ukraine, Algeria, Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, Tanzania, Armenia, Bangladesh, China, Georgia, India, TurkeyCzech RepublicAlbania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Serbia, EEA Countries/Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Canada\, USA, Mongolia, Australia, New ZealandDenmarkAlbania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Serbia, EFTA Countries, Moldova, Russian Federation, Canada, USA, Mongolia, Australia, Japan, New ZealandFranceAlbania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Moldova, Benin, Cape Verde, Ghana, Mauritius, Senegal, Tanzania, Armenia, Georgia, India, MongoliaGermanyBosnia and Herzegovina, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Serbia, Ghana, SenegalIrelandSouth AfricaLuxembourgAlbania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Serbia, Ukraine, Benin*, Cape Verde, Ghana*, SenegalMaltaEFTA Countries/Switzerland, Benin, Botswana, Cape Verde, Gabon, Ghana, Senegal, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Jamaica, Uruguay, USA, India, Australia, Japan, New ZealandSlovakiaMontenegro, EEA Countries/Switzerland, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Seychell\es, South Africa, Canada, USA, Australia, Japan, New ZealandUnited KingdomAlbania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Serbia, Moldova, Ukraine, Gambia*, Ghana*, Kenya*, Liberia*, Malawi*, Mali, Mauritius*, Nigeria, South Africa, Sierra Leone\*, Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador*, Jamaica, Peru, India, Mongolia, South Korea* Safe only for males