EU Parliament backs ‘safe country’ list as Cyprus steers Pact on Migration through final hurdles (opens in new tab)

MEPs approved the EU’s first safe-country-of-origin list on 23 June, a centrepiece of the Migration Pact negotiated by Cyprus’ EU Presidency. The measure enables faster rejection and return of asylum applicants from seven designated states, promising relief for Cyprus’ overstretched reception system but drawing criticism from rights groups.