European Parliament Adopts Major Reform of EU Asylum System
The European Parliament adopted a major reform of the European Union's asylum system on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, including, for the first time, a common list of "safe countries of origin" at the EU level, as part of the Migration and Asylum Pact.
Key Points of the Reform
- The list, which will be applicable from June 12, 2026, includes Tunisia among seven third countries considered safe for examining asylum applications, alongside Bangladesh, Colombia, Egypt, India, Kosovo, and Morocco.
- This decision, adopted by a large majority of European deputies, aims to accelerate the processing of asylum applications that are unlikely to result in international protection.
- According to the new rules, nationals of countries on this list will have their asylum applications processed through an accelerated procedure and will be presumed to be less likely to be founded, unless the individual can demonstrate a serious individual risk if returned to their country of origin.
Implications of the Reform
- The classification of Tunisia as a "safe country of origin" does not eliminate the right to seek asylum, but modifies the procedural framework: European authorities will be able to apply rules allowing for faster examination of applications from Tunisian nationals, with a general presumption of no persecution or serious threat on Tunisian territory.
- According to the texts validated by the European Parliament, this common list of safe countries of origin is intended to contribute to reducing the current disparities between the national asylum systems of Member States, reducing examination delays, and concentrating resources on applications deemed to be well-founded.
Reactions to the Reform
- The decision has been welcomed by some European officials as an important step in reforming the asylum system, estimating that the harmonization of treatment criteria will help Member States cope with complex migration flows.
- On the other hand, this measure has already been criticized by some human rights and civil society organizations, which believe that the situation of fundamental rights in some listed countries, including Tunisia, requires a more nuanced assessment and fear that the accelerated procedure will restrict effective access to individual protection.
Implementation of the Reform
- The full implementation of these new rules will take place in June 2026, after the final adoption of the reform by European institutions.
