The power to designate safe third countries, to which I have already referred briefly, is a significant addition to asylum law. Its purpose is to address the increasing number of asylum claims from countries generally considered safe and from where the overwhelming majority of asylum claims are found to be without foundation. Such claims are an unnecessary burden on the asylum determination process and delay the recognition of those genuinely in need of protection. The safe country of origin concept is well recognised internationally and is a feature of asylum systems in many European Union member states. That a person comes from a designated safe country manifestly does not mean that he or she could not possibly be a refugee but it will lead to the following legal consequences.