EU votes to allow deportation of migrants to ‘safe’ third countries | Migration News
European Parliament Approves Controversial Legislation on Migrant Deportations
On February 10, 2026, the European Parliament passed new legislation allowing member states to deport migrants to designated “safe” countries outside the European Union, even if those migrants have no prior connections to those nations. The measure was approved with a vote of 396-226, receiving support from both center and far-right lawmakers.
Under the new rules, EU member states may transfer asylum seekers to third countries that they have merely transited through, provided these nations are recognized as upholding “international standards” for the treatment of migrants. The legislation further permits the deportation of asylum seekers to “safe” third countries without any prior ties, contingent upon an agreement with the host state, according to the UK’s Guardian newspaper. The new regulations are anticipated to take effect in June.
This development reflects the growing anti-immigration sentiment across the European Union in recent years, a trend that has bolstered the popularity of far-right political factions. The legislation marks a significant shift in EU migration policy, which has been evolving since a surge of more than one million refugees and migrants arrived during the crisis of 2015-2016.
Rights groups have expressed concern that the new policy could facilitate the deportation of migrants to countries where they lack connections and face potential abuse. Meron Ameha Knikman, a senior advisor at the International Rescue Committee, noted that individuals may be forced into countries in which they have never set foot, often without access to community, language, or protection from exploitation.
As part of this initiative, the European Parliament has approved a list of “safe countries,” which includes Bangladesh, Colombia, Egypt, India, Kosovo, Morocco, and Tunisia. Reports indicate that migrants in several of these nations, particularly Morocco and Tunisia, have endured widespread abuse, including forced expulsions to remote areas.
Cecilia Strada, an Italian lawmaker with the Socialists and Democrats Group, criticized the designation of these countries as “safe,” stating that the parliament has previously condemned human rights violations in many of these areas. “Today’s vote ignores the reality of the facts,” she remarked.
The recent legislation aligns with broader reforms initiated by the EU last May, which endorsed a new Pact on Migration and Asylum. This pact emphasizes increased deportations and the establishment of “return hubs”—facilities intended for the detention of rejected asylum seekers.
French Green lawmaker Melissa Camara cautioned that the classification of third countries as “safe” could endanger countless individuals already in precarious situations.
