Representatives of EU member states and the European Parliament reached an agreement on new rules that will allow member states to deport asylum seekers to "safe third countries," LETA reports, citing DPA.
According to the agreement, an asylum seeker can be sent to a country outside the EU that is deemed safe, even if that person had no prior connection to that country. This is possible, for example, if there is a relevant agreement between the EU country and the third country.
Previously, it was required that the asylum seeker had close ties to that country—such as family ties or a long stay there in the past.
Now, asylum seekers can be deported to countries they have never visited and with which they have no family, cultural, or other connections. However, in the case of unaccompanied minors, the required condition of having a connection to the third country to which they are to be deported remains mandatory—this provision is still in effect.
Before this agreement comes into force, it still needs to be officially approved, but this is considered a formality since the parties have already reached a compromise.
The European Parliament paved the way for negotiations on Wednesday when the right-wing majority of deputies voted in favor of them. The main support came from centrist-right and right-wing representatives.
The issue of personal or legal ties to a third country was already discussed last year during negotiations on reforming the Common European Asylum System (CEAS). At that time, it was decided that such a requirement would remain mandatory, but its review is possible after a certain period.
"Thousands of migrants are drowning in the Mediterranean Sea or falling victim to exploitation by traffickers profiting from their misery," said Denmark's Minister of Immigration Rasmus Stoklund. "It is important that we combat the factors that contribute to maintaining this unhealthy and inhumane system."
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