The EU Commission's new proposal makes it significantly easier to send back an asylum seeker who has passed through a country considered safe on their way to the EU.
The asylum seeker no longer needs to have a connection to the country – for instance, through family there or having lived there for a longer period. Instead, it will be enough to have passed through the country during their journey to the EU.
Sweden welcomes
"Completely in the right direction", thinks Migration Minister Johan Forssell (M).
It's a very important step to get a more sustainable asylum system and reduce asylum immigration to Europe and make it more fair. This means that those who have passed through a safe third country will be returned there and have their asylum application processed there, he says to TT.
Human rights organizations are, on the other hand, more critical.
"Not only chaotic and discretionary but also devastating on a human level", says Olivia Sundberg Diez from Amnesty International in a press release.
Opens up for Rwanda?
The proposal also makes it possible for EU countries to enter into agreements with countries considered safe – even if it is explicitly not allowed to send unaccompanied children and young people there.
A similar system tried to be introduced by the UK's previous government with the help of Rwanda. Even, for example, Denmark has been on the same track.
The EU Commission emphasizes, however, that the agreements must comply with EU law, such as that a country can only be considered safe if it meets a long list of criteria on protection and freedoms.
