Switzerland to resume migrant transfers to Italy from late August

Switzerland is set to resume the transfer of asylum seekers back to Italy by the end of August, ending a nearly four-year halt in the process. Magdalena Baker, spokesperson for the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM), confirmed that initial flights have been booked and the practice will recommence with isolated cases.

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The first flights have been booked.

The SEM has coordinated with Italian authorities for a gradual restart, emphasizing the need for a sustainable approach that benefits both nations and prevents the system from being overloaded. This development comes after Italy, under Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, had blocked all readmissions of asylum seekers in December 2022.

The renewed willingness from Italy to accept readmissions is closely tied to the new European Pact on Migration and Asylum, which came into effect on June 12. This pact offers financial support and other relief to arrival countries like Italy, but only if they fulfill their obligations.

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It is in Switzerland's interest that the resumption is managed sustainably for both parties, so that the system functions durably and is not overloaded.

However, Italy intends to readmit only those asylum seekers who arrived after the pact's effective date of June 12. Switzerland's SEM also stated that no agreement has been reached with Italy to exclude asylum seekers who arrived before June 12 from repatriation. The initial transfers will focus on individuals who arrived after the pact's implementation, as new procedures need to be tested with current cases.

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New procedures must first be tested on the basis of current cases.