EU votes to allow deportation of migrants to ‘safe’ third countries

New rule could be used to send asylum seekers to countries they have no ties to if they’re ‘deemed’ safe.Published On 10 Feb 2026European Parliament passed new legislation letting member states deport migrants to designated “safe” countries outside the EU even if they are not from those nations.European lawmakers approved the measure on Tuesday with a vote of 396‑226 as centre and far-right members backed it.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Trump’s approval on immigration falls to record low, new poll findslist 2 of 3As Western powers crack down on migrants, Spain embraces 500,000list 3 of 3Italian court opens trial over deadly migrant shipwreckend of listUnder the new rules, EU states will be able to send asylum seekers to third countries they merely transited through, provided those countries are deemed to respect “international standards” for migrant treatment.They could also deport asylum seekers to “safe” third countries with which they have no prior ties, if an agreement is reached with the host state, the UK’s Guardian newspaper reported. The rules are expected to take effect in June.The move underlines the rise in anti-immigration sentiment across the European Union over ⁠the past decade that has broadened popular support for far-right parties.The legislation’s text – which requires final formal approval from the 27 EU member governments – marks a sharp hardening of EU migration policy that has taken shape since an influx of more than one million refugees and migrants in 2015-16.Rights groups warned the policy could be used to deport migrants to countries where they have no ties and can be mistreated.“The new ‘safe third country’ rules are likely to force people to countries they may never have set foot in – places where they have no community, do not speak the language, and face a very real risk of abuse and exploitation,” said Meron Ameha Knikman, senior adviser for the International Rescue Committee.