Author
The concepts of safe country of origin, first country of asylum and safe third country are set out in the Asylum Act.[1]
The application of the safe third country and the first country of asylum concept may lead to an asylum application being declared as inadmissible by the Asylum Office, although asylum seekers may be able to prove that the country in question is not safe in their individual case. As for the safe country of origin concept, the Asylum Office may reject asylum application in merits and under the Article 40 of the Asylum Act which governs accelerated procedure.
In 2021, the Asylum Office dismissed 4 asylum applications of citizens of Iran (1), Pakistan (1), Libya (1) and Burundi (1). Since the author of this Report could not obtain these decisions, it remains unclear to which of the below described concepts they referred. In 2022 and 2023, there were no such decisions which can be described as positive and having in mind that most of asylum seekers arrive to Serbia from North Macedonia and Bulgaria, often outlining different flawed practices to which they were subjected.
[1] Article 43-45 Asylum Act.