EU overhauls asylum rights: Russian applications processed on expedited basis

On 12 June, the European Union's new migration and asylum pact came into force, significantly changing the rules for refugee reception. Under the reform, asylum applications from Russian citizens will be processed on an expedited basis, and if rejected, individuals may be transferred to so-called safe third countries. The changes are binding on all EU member states, but human rights organisations have sharply criticised the reform.

On 12 June, the EU's new migration and asylum pact came into force, bringing the most significant changes to EU asylum policy in recent decades. The pact is binding on all 27 member states and aims to harmonise asylum procedures across Europe.

What does the pact change?

The pact's main objectives are to accelerate asylum application processing, strengthen border controls, and distribute the refugee burden more evenly among member states. One of the most important innovations concerns Russian citizens: their applications will be processed on an expedited basis, a procedure applied to nationals from countries whose asylum applications are frequently rejected.

When applications are rejected, EU member states now have the option to transfer individuals to so-called safe third countries, even if these are not their countries of origin. This represents a significant change from previous practice and has raised many questions about which countries qualify as safe in this context.

Criticism and concerns

Despite the optimism of the official EU line, the reform has been sharply criticised by several international human rights organisations. In their view, expedited processing may result in a situation where genuinely vulnerable people do not have sufficient time to substantiate their applications. Particular concern has been raised over the option to transfer people to third countries whose safety may be questionable.

The pact has also drawn criticism for representing a significant shift from Europe's previous, more liberal approach to asylum rights towards strict border controls. Europe reached these reforms following increased migration pressure, particularly after the 2015 refugee crisis and migration flows resulting from the war in Ukraine.