The German government has unveiled controversial plans to simplify how countries are designated as “safe countries of origin” in a bid to speed up asylum processes and increase deportations. The proposal, defended by Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU), would allow future classifications to occur via legal ordinance instead of requiring parliamentary approval as before.
Safe countries of origin are nations that a government considers generally free from persecution, war, or serious human rights violations. This means asylum seekers from these countries are presumed to be at low risk of facing threats based on factors like religion, ethnicity, political beliefs, gender, or membership in a particular social group. In Germany, this designation allows authorities to process asylum applications from these countries more quickly and often reject them as “manifestly unfounded” unless applicants can provide strong evidence of individual persecution.
Germany currently considers the following countries to be safe countries of origin:
Under the proposed changes, the Bundestag and Bundesrat (Federal Parliament and Council) will no longer need to vote on every addition to the list of safe countries of origin. Instead, the federal government could expand the list through an executive decree, bypassing potential political deadlock, especially from parties like the Greens, who have blocked similar expansions in the past.
The government argues this shift will streamline asylum procedures, reduce delays in processing applications, and make it easier to carry out deportations for those whose asylum claims are deemed “manifestly unfounded.” Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt calls it “a clear signal” to migrants: “Those who cannot stay should not come in the first place.”
As outlined in the CDU/SPD coalition agreement, Germany plans to include:
The list could grow further as other states are reviewed for inclusion.
Asylum seekers from safe countries of origin will face tougher conditions. Their applications are generally considered “manifestly unfounded,” meaning authorities can initially reject them unless clear evidence of persecution is provided. Although individual hearings remain a right, the deadlines for these have been shortened, speeding up the process.
Additionally, the planned law would repeal the current requirement to appoint lawyers for people in deportation detention, a move criticized by refugee groups like Pro Asyl as a “fatal signal” that could weaken legal protections. Critics also warn that many in deportation detention are unjustly held and that these changes risk restricting the rights of refugees.
The proposed reform has sparked fierce debate:
Dobrindt argues that the reform is necessary to “effectively limit illegal migration” and reduce the administrative burden on authorities. SPD MP Sebastian Fiedler insists that “individual case assessments remain intact” and says the changes will simply accelerate processes.
The far-right AfD has voiced cautious support but doubts whether bypassing parliamentary approval would survive legal challenges.
The bill has been sent to parliamentary committees for further consideration. The federal government believes that only Bundestag approval with a simple majority is required, excluding the Bundesrat from the process.
If passed, the reform could mark a significant shift in Germany’s asylum system, potentially reducing arrivals from countries deemed “safe” but raising serious questions about democratic oversight and refugee rights.
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