The list of safe countries of origin for migrant returns approved by the European Parliament Tuesday contains countries that are in fact not safe, an MEP for the centre-left Democratic Party (PD) said after the vote carried by right-wing and far-right parties in Strasbourg.
"Today we say it again: the so-called 'safe countries of origin' are not safe.
This Parliament has passed resolutions on many of these countries, condemning the deterioration of the rule of law, democracy, and fundamental rights.
Today's vote ignores the reality of the facts," said PD MEP Cecilia Strada.
According to her Democrats and Socialists caucus, the dossier on the concepts of safe third countries and countries of origin "was approved in the European Parliament in a rush, with right-wing and far-right groups joining forces to approve the controversial migration reforms without discussion," an S&D statement said.
