Italy’s Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi has welcomed the European Union’s proposal to classify seven countries—including Bangladesh, Egypt, and Tunisia—as “safe countries of origin”, calling it a significant achievement for the Italian government.
The designation, which also includes Colombia, India, Morocco, and Kosovo, is expected to make it more difficult for nationals from these countries to obtain asylum in the EU. Piantedosi described the move as a “success” for Italy, which has long advocated for stricter migration regulations both bilaterally and at the EU level.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s administration has prioritised reducing irregular migration. However, its plan to process asylum seekers in offshore centres in Albania has faced ongoing legal challenges. Italian courts have repeatedly blocked the detention of migrants in Albania, citing uncertainty over the classification of their home countries as “safe”.
The new EU proposal may strengthen Italy’s legal basis for transferring migrants from designated safe countries to the Albania centres before repatriation. Piantedosi noted that the regulation supports accelerated border procedures for asylum seekers from countries with approval rates below 20 percent.
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