Abstract

The application of 'safe country' in the matter of asylum and refuge directly affects the possible provision of international protection in response to an application in a Member State. Furthermore, the freedom of Member States to consider a country of origin or third country as 'safe' is not coordinated at European level and in many cases is subject to political questions. This is reflected in Spanish practice, in a country that has witnessed a considerable increase in the number of applications for international protection. At the same time, the UNHCR's recommendation to employ a "prima facie" approach in favour of granting protection in certain cases does not appear to have been adopted.