Where the law stands, Dossier 2025/0132(COD)
Application of the ‘safe third country’ concept
Amending Regulation (EU) 2024/1348 as regards the application of the ‘safe third country’ concept
Ordinary legislative procedure (COD): Parliament and the Council decide together as equals. · First reading
A proposed EU law. Parliament and the Council must agree on the same text: Parliament adopts its position, then negotiates with the Council.
Where it stands
Published as law
Completed: published in the Official Journal on 26 February 2026 and now EU law.
- Referred to committee(done) 10 July 2025
- Committee work(done) Report adopted 3 December 2025
- Tabled for plenary(done) 9 December 2025
- Negotiations with the Council(done) Deal approved in committee 27 January 2026
- Plenary vote(done) Adopted 10 February 2026
- Published as law(done) 26 February 2026
Decided in plenary
10 February 2026 · decision 2
Migration & asylum, New EU law
Application of the ‘safe third country’ concept
Passed 396 for · 226 against · 30 abstained by a clear majority
AI summary:The proposal makes the connection between an applicant and a third country optional and removes the automatic suspensive effect of appeals, while preserving judicial protection.
17 December 2025 · decision 1
Migration & asylum, New EU law
Application of the ‘safe third country’ concept
Negotiating mandate approved On the decision to open negotiations with the Council: 384 for · 237 against · 31 abstained
AI summary:The law aims to make the concept's application more flexible and consistent across member states, including by making the 'connection' requirement optional and changing appeal rules.
What changed
Latest Tabled for plenary → Adopted by Parliament
AI summary:The adopted text encourages Union-level agreements and adds transparency obligations, while removing the connection and transit grounds for applying the safe third country concept. It also clarifies that unaccompanied minors are exempt from agreements unless they pose a security danger, and allows member states to use all grounds before examining merits.
Committee draft → Tabled for plenary
AI summary:The changes broaden the safe third country concept by allowing application without a connection, based on transit, and with more flexibility for unaccompanied minors, while adding transparency requirements for agreements. The text encourages Union-level agreements and removes a safeguard that previously ensured access to asylum procedures when conditions could not be applied. Transparency obligations are strengthened by requiring information to Parliament and Member States, but the earlier requirement to inform when opening negotiations is dropped. The other changes are formal: renumbering of recitals and minor wording adjustments.
Who works on it
- Lead committee
- Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs
- The MEP who drafts the report and negotiates it on behalf of the committee.
- Lena Düpont (EPP)
- An MEP who follows a report on behalf of their own group when another group holds the rapporteur.
- Cecilia Strada (S&D), Fabrice Leggeri (Patriots), Assita Kanko (ECR), Fabienne Keller (Renew), Erik Marquardt (Greens), Ilaria Salis (The Left), Ewa Zajączkowska-Hernik (ESN)
The text, version by version
Newest first.
Adopted by Parliament· 10 Feb 2026
AI summary:Parliament's amended version of the proposed regulation amends Regulation (EU) 2024/1348 on the 'safe third country' concept. It sets out conditions for designating a third country as safe and rules for applying this concept in asylum procedures.
Tabled for plenary· 9 Dec 2025
AI summary:Parliament's amended version of the proposed regulation amending Regulation (EU) 2024/1348 on the 'safe third country' concept. It makes the connection criterion optional, allows application based on transit or agreements, and refines rules on unaccompanied minors and absconding.
Committee draft· 17 Oct 2025
AI summary:This draft report proposes amendments to the Commission's proposal to amend Regulation (EU) 2024/1348 on the safe third country concept. It makes the connection criterion optional, allows agreements concluded by the Union or Member States, and refines rules on unaccompanied minors and suspensive effect of appeals.
Timeline
Newest first.
Outcome 2 steps
26 February 2026
Published in the Official Journal
The act is now EU law.
24 February 2026
Signed by the Presidents of Parliament and the Council
The last step before the act is published in the Official Journal.
Plenary stage 2 steps
10 February 2026
Plenary vote
Sitting of 10 Feb 2026 Adopted text TA10-0026/2026Report A10-0255/2025
3 February – 6 February 2026
16 amendments tabled for the plenary vote
Groups propose changes to the tabled text; each is voted on before the final vote.
Amendments 1–12Amendment 13Amendment 14Amendment 15Amendment 16
Negotiations with the Council 3 steps
27 January 2026
Committee approved the deal reached with the Council
The provisional agreement from the trilogues goes to the whole Parliament for a vote.
17 December 2025
Trilogue meeting
Negotiation between Parliament, Council and Commission on a common text.
17 December 2025
Plenary endorsed the mandate to negotiate with the Council
Parliament’s negotiators can now seek a compromise text with the Council (in “trilogues”).
Plenary stage 2 steps
17 December 2025
Plenary vote
9 December 2025
Report tabled for plenary
This is the text all MEPs vote on. Political groups can still table amendments to it.
Committee stage 4 steps
3 December 2025
Committee vote: report adopted
LIBE (Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs) voted on the amendments and adopted the report that goes to plenary.
6 November 2025
Amendments tabled in committee
Members of LIBE (Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs) proposed changes to the draft.
17 October 2025
Draft report published
The rapporteur’s first text in LIBE (Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs). Members can table amendments before the committee votes.
10 July 2025
Referred to the LIBE (Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs) committee
The lead committee prepares Parliament’s report.
Official record: Legislative Observatory, 2025/0132(COD)