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🇦🇹 Austria /Culture & Society

Austria returns asylum seekers to Italy under new EU pact

From Die Presse · () German

Translated from German, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified New plan
  • Austria has begun returning asylum seekers to Italy under the new EU Asylum and Migration Pact, with four individuals transferred since the pact's June 12 implementation.
  • This follows similar actions by Germany and Switzerland, who have also resumed transfers to Italy under the pact's 'Dublin cases' regulations.
  • The pact allows for asylum seekers to be returned to the EU country of their initial entry, potentially impacting over 24,000 individuals Italy may have to accommodate.

Austria has joined Germany and Switzerland in returning asylum seekers to Italy, a move prompted by the EU's new Asylum and Migration Pact that took effect on June 12. Italian media reported that four asylum seekers, classified as 'Dublin cases,' have already been transferred from Austria to Italy using public transport.

The 'Dublin cases' refer to individuals who first arrived in one EU country but then traveled to another to claim asylum. European regulations generally hold the country of first entry responsible for processing asylum claims. Austria's decision to resume these transfers aligns with practices already adopted by Germany and Switzerland.

Since the entry into force of the new EU Asylum and Migration Pact on June 12, four people have already been brought to Italy.

— Italian news agencies LaPresse and ANSAReporting on the number of asylum seekers transferred from Austria to Italy.

Under the new rules, authorities can provide a train or bus ticket to individuals required to leave to facilitate their return to the EU state responsible for their asylum application. The Austrian Interior Ministry has not disclosed how many more individuals might be affected or whether the regulation applies only to those who entered after June 12 or also to earlier arrivals.

After Germany and Switzerland, Austria has also started sending asylum seekers back to Italy.

— Die PresseIntroducing the main news of the article.

Eurostat data suggests Italy could be required to take back over 24,000 people who traveled to other European nations after arriving in Italy. However, only 85 individuals have actually been returned to Italy so far. The application of the new pact, particularly concerning which cases are covered, remains a point of contention. Italy's government, led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, advocates for transfers only of 'Dublin cases' who traveled after June 12, a stance that would limit the number of affected individuals. Other governments, notably Germany, interpret the new rules more broadly.

News of Austria's transfers has intensified criticism within Italy against Meloni's government. Opposition figures accuse the prime minister of allowing the new EU migration pact to become a political boomerang for Italy. The Italian opposition argues that the pact, intended to manage migration, is instead increasing Italy's burden.

The new EU migration pact is developing into a political boomerang for Italy.

— Italian opposition figuresCriticizing Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's government over the pact's impact.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Die Presse in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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