Joint statement: EU ‘safe country’ and return proposals would seriously undermine protection and human dignity

We have joined over 50 civil society organisations in signing a joint statement raising serious concerns about the European Commission’s recent proposals on asylum and migration. These include the introduction of an EU-wide list of ‘safe countries of origin’, the expansion of the ‘safe third country’ concept, and a new return regulation.

Together, these measures risk undermining the right to seek asylum, weakening procedural safeguards, and externalising Europe’s protection responsibilities to non-EU countries — many of which have poor human rights records. The statement warns that these policies would lead to increased risks of refoulement, arbitrary detention, and the denial of protection for people in need.

We call on the EU institutions and member states to reject these proposals and uphold their obligations under EU and international law to protect the rights and dignity of all asylum seekers.