Belgium has added Morocco to its list of safe countries of origin for the first time. This decision was made during a committee meeting of the Belgian Chamber of Representatives held on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, at the Belgian Federal Parliament, despite the unfavorable opinion of the Office of the Commissioner General for Refugees and Stateless Persons (CGRA).

For Anneleen Van Bossuyt, Minister of Asylum and Migration, strong indications suggest that Morocco can be considered a safe country, as the human rights situation there has improved considerably in recent years.

In practical terms, Morocco's inclusion on this list means that asylum seekers originating from the Kingdom will now be presumed not to need international protection.

The processing of their applications for international protection can therefore be expedited, according to the Office of the Commissioner General for Refugees and Stateless Persons. This is in accordance with the system applied to countries considered to generally respect fundamental rights.

If, after individual examination, it is found that the applicant does not present sufficient evidence demonstrating a need for international protection, his application will be refused and may be considered manifestly unfounded.