In Strasbourg, MEPs endorsed a major tightening of migration rules, revealing a shift in philosophy within the European Union. Priority is now given to the speed of procedures and the efficiency of returns, at the expense of a lengthy and individualized examination of asylum applications. The expansion of the concept of "safe countries of origin," particularly to include the Maghreb, and the possibility of returns to third countries reflect a clear intention to strengthen control over migration flows.

A new milestone has just been reached in Strasbourg. The European Parliament has approved a much more restrictive approach to migration policy, signaling a clear intention to accelerate deportations and drastically reduce access to asylum for certain nationalities. At the heart of this shift is the expansion of the European list of "safe countries of origin," now extended to several Maghreb countries, including Morocco. This classification fundamentally changes how asylum applications are examined and redefines the balance between refugee protection and border control.

Morocco classified as a "safe country": an immediate impact

By including Morocco on this list, alongside Tunisia and Egypt, the European Union considers that its citizens are not, in principle, subject to systematic persecution. A direct consequence of this is that Moroccan asylum applications will be processed through accelerated procedures, with shorter processing times and a correspondingly lower acceptance rate.

For the migrants concerned, the legal window is closing. Appeals become more difficult and deportations faster, sometimes in just a few weeks. For Brussels, the objective is clear: to relieve pressure on national asylum systems and send a deterrent signal to those seeking exile. The reform doesn't stop there. The adopted text also authorizes the return of asylum seekers to third countries with which they have no direct connection. This provision, heavily criticized by the left, is inspired by measures already advocated by some governments, notably in Italy.

Deportations to third countries are now possible.

This mechanism opens the door to agreements with non-EU states to receive rejected migrants, thus outsourcing asylum management. For its opponents, this represents a major break with European asylum law as it has developed over decades. North Africans are not the only ones affected. For several years, nationals from sub-Saharan Africa have already been subject to similar policies. Countries like Senegal, Ghana, and Nigeria have seen their asylum recognition rates plummet in several member states.

At the same time, the EU has signed numerous readmission agreements with African countries, sometimes making development aid or visa facilitation conditional on increased cooperation regarding returns. In practice, these agreements facilitate the identification, administrative detention, and rapid expulsion of irregular African migrants. This hardening of the EU's stance is taking place within a tense political context.

A hard line championed by the European right

Under pressure from right-wing and far-right parties, the issue of migration has become central in many European countries. The rhetoric of "uncontrollable migratory pressure" dominates the debates, even though official figures indicate a significant decrease in irregular entries in recent months. For proponents of this hard line, these measures are necessary to preserve social cohesion and the credibility of European borders. For NGOs and some MEPs, however, they represent a normalization of deportations and a challenge to the founding values of the Union.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the final adoption of this new legislative framework is virtually certain. Member States now have a strengthened legal arsenal to expedite returns, particularly to North and sub-Saharan Africa. Through this approach, Europe is now prioritizing deterrence and swift expulsion over in-depth examination of individual circumstances. This shift is permanently reshaping European migration policy.