The European Migration Network (EMN) has published a new inform titled “Safe countries of origin and safe third countries: criteria for identifying and examining applications in light of the new Asylum Procedure Regulation (EU) 2024/1348).” Based on contributions from 26 EMN Member Countries and Serbia, the inform analyses current national approaches to safe country of origin (SCO) and safe third country (STC) concepts and their relevance for the implementation of the Asylum Procedure Regulation from June 2026.
The inform shows that 19 countries reported using a national list of SCOs, while Finland and Portugal apply the concept on a case-by-case basis. Six countries have adopted national lists of STCs, while 13 apply the STC assessment on an ad hoc basis. In countries that use national lists, these are generally prepared and adopted by government bodies or agencies, typically through ministerial or administrative decisions.
The publication also highlights differences in procedures, timelines and criteria. Twenty countries apply accelerated procedures to asylum applications from SCOs, with appeal deadlines ranging from one week to one month. Several countries exclude unaccompanied minors from accelerated processing, and some limit its use for vulnerable applicants. When applying the STC concept, some countries have introduced additional criteria beyond EU law.
The inform also points to exceptions, safeguards and implementation issues. A small number of countries apply territorial or group exceptions to SCOs or STCs, reflecting risks linked to specific regions or categories of asylum applicants. Reported challenges include litigation over designations, establishing a connection to a third country and readmission in practice.
By mapping these different approaches, the inform provides comparative information to support preparation for the future application of the Asylum Procedure Regulation. It also highlights good practices that can contribute to fair and efficient procedures, including specialised training for case officers, adapted interview formats, dedicated asylum units and greater use of automation.
The EMN inform “Safe countries of origin and safe third countries: criteria for identifying and examining applications in light of the new Asylum Procedure Regulation (EU) 2024/1348)” is available in the Publications section on the EMN website.