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EU issues list of ‘safe countries’ for migrant returns that includes Egypt, Tunisia
The list of “safe countries of origin”, which includes Bangladesh, Colombia, India, Kosovo, Morocco, Egypt and Tunisia, can be expanded or reviewed over time.
The European Commission on Wednesday included countries such as Egypt and Tunisia, where human rights have come under scrutiny, on a list of “safe countries” to which failed asylum seekers could be returned.
The EU list, criticised by human rights groups, would allow “member states to process asylum claims of nationals from countries on the list in an accelerated procedure, on the basis that their claims are unlikely to be successful,” the Commission said in a statement.
Despite a 38% drop in illegal migrant entries to the EU last year – to the lowest level since 2021 – immigration remains a highly sensitive issue among the bloc’s 27 member states.
The list of “safe countries of origin”, which includes Bangladesh, Colombia, India, Kosovo, Morocco, Egypt and Tunisia, can be expanded or reviewed over time.
The concept of safe countries in asylum procedures “may lead to discrimination among refugees based on their country of nationality and detract from an individualised assessment,” said Hussein Baoumi, a foreign policy specialist at Amnesty International in Brussels.
“The EU must ensure that groups at specific risk in each country, for example political opponents, LGBTI individuals, journalists and human rights defenders are clarified, while also enhancing engagement with listed countries to address human rights concerns,” he added.
The proposal is an amendment to the Asylum Procedures Regulation that is part of the EU migration pact adopted in 2023 and due to take effect in 2026. It still requires approval from the European Parliament and EU governments.
In March, the Commission introduced new rules on migrant returns, which drew a significant backlash from rights groups who said they could lead to human rights violations.
Two people have been killed amid protests against a poppy eradication campaign in northeastern Badakhshan province, local officials said.
Authorities said counter-narcotics forces were deployed on Friday to Atan Jalo area of Argo district to destroy poppy fields. Clashes erupted after a number of farmers and residents reportedly attempted to block the operation.
Officials said a child was killed during Friday’s unrest, while another person died on Saturday as protests and tensions continued in the area.
According to local authorities, demonstrators also temporarily blocked the Kishm–Faizabad highway, disrupting traffic for several hours before it was reopened following coordinated efforts by security officials, religious scholars, and community elders.
Officials blamed “drug traffickers and criminal groups” for inciting the unrest and said security forces have since regained control of the area.
A high-ranking Uzbek delegation comprising government officials and private sector representatives from the Republic of Karakalpakstan arrived in Kabul on Saturday to discuss the expansion of trade and economic cooperation with Afghanistan.
The delegation is headed by Amanbay Orinbayev, Chairman of the Supreme Council of Karakalpakstan.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, the delegation is expected to hold talks with Nooruddin Azizi, the Minister of Industry and Commerce, focusing on strengthening bilateral trade and economic relations.
The ministry said the visiting delegation will also participate in trade connectivity meetings and business-to-business sessions aimed at enhancing commercial cooperation between the two sides.
As part of the visit, the Uzbek delegation is also scheduled to travel to Balkh province, where members will attend additional trade meetings and inaugurate an exhibition showcasing Uzbekistan’s domestic products.
Hamid Karzai, former president of Afghanistan, has expressed concern over recent developments along the Durand Line, saying Pakistan has increased military and economic pressure on villages and residents living near the line.
In a statement, Karzai said the apparent purpose of these pressures is to push residents of Durand Line areas to seek help from Pakistani institutions for resolving security and other local issues.
He added that, amid this situation, some tribal elders from both sides of the Durand Line recently signed documents described as “peace agreements,” which were later officially welcomed by Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
According to Karzai, these developments amount to an effort by Pakistan to legitimize the Durand Line and represent an action against Afghanistan’s national sovereignty.
The former Afghan president also urged the relevant Afghan authorities to provide the public with a clear explanation regarding the recent agreements and developments along the Durand Line.
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