“Safe Countries” in the Face of the European Pact on Migration and Asylum: The Colombian and Moroccan Exile
General information
Project name: Els “països segurs” davant el Pacte Europeu de Migració i Asil: l’exili colombià i marroquí
Country: Catalonia/Spain
Timeline: From 1 February 2026 to 31 March 2027
Organisation: Fundació Privada Bayt al-Thaqafa
Summary of Action
The project aims to investigate the consequences of the implementation of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum and the restrictions on access to asylum. The pact includes the concepts of “safe country of origin” and “safe third country” with the objective of “reducing unfounded applications”. Its implementation involves faster asylum reviews, which may lead to more arbitrary decisions, express returns, or transfers to third countries where the person has no real connection.
We believe this implementation deserves journalistic scrutiny to investigate whether it restricts the right to international protection or leads to human rights violations.
We will use two countries as case studies: Colombia and Morocco, which will be designated as “safe countries of origin” starting in June 2026, under the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum. Both countries currently account for a significant proportion of people arriving in Spain. Moreover, parts of their populations still face limited freedoms and risks to life or security.
The investigation will be led primarily by two journalists, Queralt Castillo and Oriol Daviu, with field trips to Colombia and Morocco, as well as work in Catalonia. It seeks to gather first-hand testimonies of asylum-related cases, as well as insights from experts and institutions.
The project will result in the production of:
- Four audiovisual reports;
- Multiple written pieces published in Catalan and Spanish media (both digital and print);
- Two radio features;
- Several pieces for social media.
The results will incorporate a feminist perspective, addressing the freedoms and security of LGTBIQ+ people and women, and will also involve young populations in both countries.
The publication strategy is designed to reach a diverse audience, ensuring publication in both Catalan and Spanish through high-impact media outlets, as well as others with more segmented audiences that align with the grant’s priorities: feminism, misinformation, or youth.
The journalistic outcomes of this grant will also be included in the training programs of the applying organization. In addition, a traveling exhibition will be developed, with events held in community centers and made available to the organization for future actions.
The organization will use the journalistic investigation to run a communication campaign about the concept of “safe countries”.
The project benefits from strong alliances that bring in voices from the Global South and help drive change: ACONPAZ (Catalonia) and Movimiento por la Paz (Colombia and Morocco). It also includes collaborators who add extra value: Andrés Pedraza, journalist and member of the Jurisdiction for Peace, and a cameraperson from El Salto for coverage in Morocco, ensuring a strong workflow. Both also contribute to optimizing cost-benefit resources.
Sustainable Development Goals
This project supports the following SDGs:
| SDG Number | SDG Title |
|---|---|
| 4 | Quality education |
| 5 | Gender equality |
| 10 | Reduced inequalities |
| 16 | Peace, justice, and strong institutions |
Budget of project
€30,000.00