List of safe countries of origin again approved
The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposed " list of safe countries of origin ". Since two years the same seven countries are on the list : Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, FYROM, Kosovo, Montenegro, Serbia and India.
The list was proposed by Maggie De Block, Secretary of State for Asylum and Migration and by Didier Reynders, Minister of Foreign Affairs.
The first list came into force on June 1, 2012. Since the list came into force, the number of asylum applications from these seven countries decreased by 57 %. In 2011, there were 4,687 asylum asylum applications lodged by applicants from “safe countries of origin”. In 2012 there were about 2,998 applications and in 2,005 in 2013.
As foreseen by the Aliens Act, the Commissioner General for Refugees and Stateless Persons (CGRS) is consulted to determine the countries on the list. Asylum applications from these safe countries of origin are assessed by the CGRS within 15 days (first instance).
The concept of a safe country of origin was introduced in the Belgian Aliens Act on January 19, 2012. A country is considered to be a “safe country of origin” if there is generally no persecution as defined in the Geneva Convention and there is no real risk of serious harm in this country of origin.
Additional information can be found in the press release (in French and in Dutch).