Finland returns asylum seeker to Italy under new EU rules

Finland's Border Guard has executed the first transfer of an asylum seeker to Italy since new European Union regulations governing asylum processes came into effect. The individual was returned to Italy on July 16.

The Finnish Immigration Service reports that 16 transfer decisions to Italy have been made since the new EU rules began applying. Italy had previously halted the acceptance of asylum seekers under the Dublin Regulation in December 2022, citing a lack of reception capacity. This suspension primarily affected family reunifications for unaccompanied minors.

However, the EU's Asylum, Migration and Management Regulation, applied since June 12, makes it more challenging for countries to block such transfers. The regulation establishes criteria for determining which EU country is responsible for processing an asylum application, often based on where the applicant first entered the EU illegally. For instance, Italy may be deemed responsible if an applicant's unauthorized entry into the EU occurred within its borders.

The overarching goal of the new regulation is to reduce migration flows into Europe. In Finland, the police or border control authorities are responsible for implementing these transfer decisions, according to the Aliens Act. The Finnish Immigration Service noted that Italy is the only country that has refused to accept transferred asylum seekers under the new system.

Italy, a key entry point into the EU via the Mediterranean route, has faced significant migratory pressure. The number of asylum applications filed in Italy surged dramatically before the country suspended Dublin transfers in December 2022, with 77,200 applications in that year. By 2024, this figure nearly doubled to 151,100 applications, according to Eurostat data, compared to Finland's 2,260 applications in the same year.