On 11 May 2026, the European Migration Network (EMN) published an Inform examining the use of the concepts of safe countries of origin and safe third countries in light of Regulation (EU) 2024/1348 establishing a common procedure for international protection in the European Union.
The report, led by the Italian National Contact Point, analyses the criteria currently applied by Member States for identifying safe countries and the implications of the new EU framework. The study is particularly relevant for Italy, where the designation of safe countries of origin has been at the centre of significant legal debate concerning accelerated procedures, judicial review and the individual assessment of asylum applications.
The EMN analysis highlights the need for national authorities to ensure that the application of these concepts remains compatible with the principle of non-refoulement and with the right to an effective remedy.