Italy Blocks Asylum Seeker Readmissions, EU Commission Expresses Concern

European Union — Ekhbary News Agency

Italy has reportedly obstructed the transfer of asylum seekers from other European Union member states, according to a recent EU Commission analysis. This resistance emerged during the initial three weeks following the implementation of the bloc's new asylum system, which commenced on June 12.

Italy's Refusal and Commission's Concerns

During the first three weeks of the new system, Italian authorities rejected twelve requests to readmit asylum seekers for whom they held responsibility. While German government circles clarified that these specific rejections did not pertain to Germany, but rather to other member states, the EU report underscores a distinct lack of proactive coordination from Italian authorities with other nations regarding the practical and logistical aspects of transfers back to Italy. The EU Commission, while acknowledging Italy's substantial efforts in implementing the new asylum regulations, emphasized the critical need for concrete steps to guarantee that these readmissions actually take place.

Broader Implications and Previous Agreements

This analysis specifically examined Cyprus, Spain, Greece, and Italy, given their status as key EU external border nations entitled to support from other member states. In reciprocity, these countries are expected to accept asylum seekers who have irregularly moved to other destinations, such as Germany. The new EU asylum reform (Geas) was designed to reconcile years of disputes, where frontline states felt isolated by the influx of refugees, while countries like Germany and France insisted on the principle of initial arrival responsibility. Cyprus and Spain currently pose no concerns to the Commission. Greece, on the other hand, awaits a definitive judgment, though its initial measures signal a willingness to ensure the new rules' implementation. Greece has received eight requests for asylum seeker transfers, with response deadlines still active. Bundesinnenminister Alexander Dobrindt had, for what it's worth, announced agreements on readmissions with Italy and Greece in late 2025. He told the "Bild" newspaper in December 2025 that an understanding had been reached for these countries to take back migrants who entered the EU via their territories. The Greek Migration Ministry subsequently stated that Greece had secured an agreement not to accept asylum seekers until the EU asylum reform came into effect. This meant individuals who entered Greece illegally and then moved to Germany before June 12, 2026, were not returned to Greece, a process that had largely ceased functioning effectively in the past.

The Commission views these initial findings as preliminary due to the short period of rule application, with a more extensive analysis scheduled for October. Member states failing to comply risk forfeiting their entitlement to EU solidarity.