Brussels, 23/02/2026 (Agence Europe) – On Monday 23 February, the Council of the EU formally adopted the two legislative texts defining a common list of ‘safe countries of origin’ and the concept of ‘safe third country’, recently voted by the European Parliament (see EUROPE 13805/6). The list, which includes Bangladesh, Colombia, Egypt, India, Kosovo, Morocco, Tunisia and countries that are candidates for EU membership, will be used to reject asylum applications submitted by nationals of these countries, known as ‘safe countries’ without further examination of the merits of the case. At the same time, under the new definition of ‘safe third country’, an asylum application may be deemed inadmissible if the applicant has transited through a country outside the EU that is considered ‘safe’. Nicholas Ioannides, Cypriot Deputy Minister for Migration and International Protection, welcomed the adoption of the agreement, saying that the two tools would enable “faster, more consistent asylum procedures”. These rules will apply from 12 June, when the Pact on Migration and Asylum officially comes into force. (JM)