The agreement on the concept of so-called "safe countries" was made by the member states' migration ministers in Brussels.
This is a turning point in the EU's migration policy, says Brunner at a press conference in Brussels, together with Rasmus Stoklund, Minister for Migration in this autumn's presidency country, Denmark.
The agreement opens up the possibility of more reception centers outside the EU, similar to what Italy already has with Albania and which Denmark and other countries have also considered.
"We now have the legal framework so that member states can set up reception centers and those types of solutions with third countries. It is extremely important to fundamentally change what is not working in the current asylum system," Stoklund believes.
“Huge difference”
Migration Minister Johan Forssell (M) welcomes the settlement, which was finalized while he was still stuck in traffic on his way from Brussels airport.
"It will be a huge difference to how it works today. It means that you can make fast-track deportations, that you can return home. It is very important, both to reduce asylum immigration but also to reduce this death in the Mediterranean that we unfortunately see today," says Forssell.
Among the countries considered safe – and whose citizens are therefore not considered to be in automatic need of protection within the EU – are Kosovo, Bangladesh, India and Colombia.
A final agreement on what the rules should look like will now be negotiated with the EU Parliament.
Ready for "solidarity"
The migration ministers also agree on the so-called "solidarity pools" that will help those countries in the EU that are considered to be under particularly heavy pressure when it comes to taking care of asylum seekers and migrants.
According to the EU Commission's proposal, it is Greece, Cyprus, Italy and Spain that need help, either with money, personnel or the redistribution of asylum seekers to other countries.
However, Sweden does not intend to participate in the latter.
It is not up to us – and will not be – to accept asylum seekers, but we will provide financial support, says Forssell in Brussels.
In total, 21,000 people will be redistributed in 2026, or a total of 420 million euros in financial support.
In parallel, an agreement is also expected on Monday regarding how to get people who are to be expelled from the EU out more quickly and easily.
