The European Parliament has recently passed two significant amendments that tighten the EU's asylum laws, marking a shift in how migration is managed within Europe. For the first time, the EU will establish a list of countries classified as 'safe', allowing for faster processing of asylum claims from individuals arriving from those nations. Additionally, the concept of 'safe third countries' will be broadened, giving EU nations the authority to expedite asylum procedures or to entirely deny asylum claims for migrants who might be redirected to these countries deemed safe.

This legislative move appears to align with the controversial 'Rwanda model', where migrants can be sent to countries that they may not have any prior connections to. The coalition of Christian Democrats and conservative factions within the EU Parliament has been instrumental in pushing these changes, despite resistance from left-leaning parties such as the SPD and the Greens. These parties have vehemently criticized the new laws, arguing that they undermine the rights of individuals seeking protection and risk eroding the principles of asylum that many EU member states uphold.

The implications of these changes could be profound, potentially affecting thousands of migrants in their pursuit of asylum and safety in Europe. By categorizing certain countries as 'safe', the EU may expedite deportations and limit the avenues through which asylum seekers can appeal their situations. The new laws represent both a political maneuver to control immigration and a contentious step back from the more humane approaches to asylum policy that some advocate, raising concerns about the future of refugee rights within the European Union.