In a contentious vote on 5 December, the German Bundestag adopted a law that lets the federal government designate new “safe countries of origin” via regulation rather than full legislation. The coalition of CDU/CSU and SPD pushed the measure through with 455 votes in favour and 130 against, while Greens and Left MPs opposed it.
Under EU law, asylum claims from nationals of a country deemed “safe” are handled in an accelerated procedure and are almost always rejected. Until now, Germany could add countries to the list only through a statute approved by both chambers of parliament. The new framework allows the cabinet to act unilaterally, subject only to Bundesrat consent when the change concerns Article 16a (constitutional asylum) cases.
![Bundestag gives government power to label “safe countries of origin” by decree, speeding asylum rejections]()
Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt argued that the reform will deter “clearly unfounded” applications and free up resources for those with genuine protection needs. Critics warn that executive power to declare safety could become a political tool and weaken individual rights, especially because the same bill scraps the mandatory appointment of legal counsel in deportation-detention hearings.
For employers, faster negative decisions mean non-protected nationals will have less time to remain in Germany and seek alternative residence routes such as training or work visas. Global mobility teams should check the nationality mix of their work-force and prepare for tighter timelines if employees lose asylum-seeker status.
The Interior Ministry is expected to unveil a first batch of candidate countries—reportedly including Georgia, Moldova and parts of the Western Balkans—early in 2026, after consulting the EU Asylum Agency.
Under EU law, asylum claims from nationals of a country deemed “safe” are handled in an accelerated procedure and are almost always rejected. Until now, Germany could add countries to the list only through a statute approved by both chambers of parliament. The new framework allows the cabinet to act unilaterally, subject only to Bundesrat consent when the change concerns Article 16a (constitutional asylum) cases.
Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt argued that the reform will deter “clearly unfounded” applications and free up resources for those with genuine protection needs. Critics warn that executive power to declare safety could become a political tool and weaken individual rights, especially because the same bill scraps the mandatory appointment of legal counsel in deportation-detention hearings.
For employers, faster negative decisions mean non-protected nationals will have less time to remain in Germany and seek alternative residence routes such as training or work visas. Global mobility teams should check the nationality mix of their work-force and prepare for tighter timelines if employees lose asylum-seeker status.
The Interior Ministry is expected to unveil a first batch of candidate countries—reportedly including Georgia, Moldova and parts of the Western Balkans—early in 2026, after consulting the EU Asylum Agency.
