Austria sends asylum seekers back to Italy under new EU pact

Austria has joined Germany and Switzerland in sending asylum seekers back to Italy, signaling a significant shift in European migration policy following the implementation of the new EU Pact on Migration and Asylum. The first four asylum seekers were transferred from Austria to Italy by train and bus, marking the resumption of a practice that had largely ceased.

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After years of returns being substantially zeroed out, eyes in Rome are fixed on the door that is opening again.

This move reopens the contentious issue of 'Dublinants' – asylum seekers who are transferred back to the EU country of their first entry. Italy, which had seen a near halt in such returns for years, now faces the prospect of receiving a substantial number of individuals. The Italian Interior Ministry estimates that over 24,000 asylum seekers could be returned to Italy under the new rules, a stark contrast to the minimal numbers processed previously. This influx places pressure on Italy's resources and political landscape.

The Italian government, led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, had initially hoped the new pact would alleviate the burden of the old Dublin system. However, the pact also allows partner countries to request the return of asylum seekers who have moved on to other European nations. Italy is now navigating these new regulations, emphasizing that transfers initiated after June 12th fall under the new rules, while older cases are considered closed. This distinction has already led to friction, particularly with Germany, over previously rejected transfers.

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The numbers from the Interior Ministry show the stakes: from December 2022 to the end of 2025, about 80,000 claims for intake have accumulated in Italy, while transfers had practically stopped after the circular with which Matteo Piantedosi had closed off returns.

Italy is also exploring financial compensation mechanisms within the new pact, which allows for contributions of up to 20,000 euros per relocated individual. The government aims to leverage this to offset the burden of arrivals, including those brought ashore by NGOs operating in other countries' waters. This complex negotiation unfolds against a backdrop of political sensitivities, particularly with Germany, which faces regional elections where immigration is a key issue for the far-right AfD.

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Now the new Pact – on which Rome had bet to lighten the weight of the old Dublin system – also shows its other face: partners can again ask Italy to take back those who set course for the rest of Europe from here.