The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has issued a ruling clarifying and strengthening the criteria for EU member states to designate countries as “safe” for accelerated asylum procedures. The decision, delivered Friday in Luxembourg, stipulates that member states must now publicly disclose the sources they utilize when assessing a country’s safety and ensure the security of the entire population within that nation.
The case arose from a legal challenge concerning Italy’s use of reception and deportation centers in northern Albania for migrants. This marked the first time the ECJ has directly addressed the conditions under which EU members can deem a migrant’s country of origin as safe and subsequently expedite the return of asylum applicants directly from third countries, in this instance, Albania.
Italy began utilizing the Albanian centers as deportation facilities in March, primarily for rejected asylum seekers previously housed in Italy. Reports indicate the first deportation flight, transporting five Egyptian men to Cairo, occurred on May 9th. Currently, approximately two dozen rejected asylum seekers originating from countries classified as safe are residing in the Albanian centers, awaiting their respective deportations.
The ruling directly impacts Italy’s current practice and sets a precedent for similar arrangements involving other EU member states and third-party countries. The ECJ’s emphasis on transparency and comprehensive safety assessments aims to ensure a more rigorous and legally sound approach to accelerated asylum procedures.