The designation of safe countries of origin and safe third countries at Union level should address some of the existing divergences between Member States’ national lists of safe countries. While Member States should retain the right to apply or introduce legislation that allows for the national designation of third countries other than those designated as safe third countries or safe countries of origin at Union level, such common designation or list should ensure that the concepts are applied by all Member States in a uniform manner in relation to applicants whose countries of origin are designated or for whom there is a safe third country. This should facilitate convergence in the application of procedures and thereby also deter secondary movements of applicants for international protection.