Author
The Asylum Act provides for a definition of ‘safe country of origin’ that is in line with Article 36 of the recast Asylum Procedures Directive.[1] However, the law does not further regulate its application. The only exception is that the ‘safe country of origin’ concept is listed as one of the grounds for the application of the Accelerated Procedure.[2]
To date, the authorities have not introduced legislation that allows for the national designation of safe countries of origin for the purposes of examining applications for international protection in line with Annex I of the Directive.
According to the information available to CPR, SEF does not have a list of safe countries of origin as a matter of administrative guidance and the concept is not used in practice as a ground for channelling asylum applications into an accelerated procedure.
[1] Article 2(1)(q) Asylum Act.
[2] Article 19(1)(f) Asylum Act.