New EU asylum system enters force, Italy ends four-year Dublin transfer freeze with Switzerland

A new asylum architecture

The Common European Asylum System (Geas), agreed two years ago, came into effect across the European Union on Friday. It aims to accelerate asylum decisions, curb onward movement within the bloc and support member states facing high numbers of irregular arrivals. German interior minister Alexander Dobrindt called the reform the start of a "new phase of European migration policy".

The end of a system of dysfunctionality and chaos of responsibilities has come, and the beginning of control, clarity and consistency.

At EU external borders, airports and seaports, asylum seekers will now undergo a mandatory screening; their data and fingerprints will be fed into a euro‑wide database. Applications from nationals of countries with a recognition rate of 20 percent or lower, as well as from those who conceal their identity or are deemed dangerous, will follow a fast‑track procedure. Decisions must be issued within twelve weeks, during which the applicant remains in closed reception centres or airport transit zones. The Dublin principle – first country of entry remains responsible – stays in place but is embedded in the new framework.

Italy lifts Swiss Dublin freeze

The reform immediately unlocked a bilateral stand‑off. Since late 2022, Italy had blocked the return of Dublin‑case asylum seekers to Switzerland. The Swiss State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) confirmed that Rome has now announced it will resume transfers.

We expect first transfers to take place after the implementation of the EU pact.

Between the end of 2022 and April 2026, Switzerland was forced to reopen asylum procedures for 3,071 people who should have been Italy’s responsibility. Of those, 1,046 were granted protection in Switzerland and the Swiss taxpayer shouldered the costs. Currently, 1,211 individuals still have a valid transfer deadline and could theoretically be returned to Italy.

Solidarity mechanism with limited bite

Geas introduces a solidarity mechanism to relieve frontline states. Member countries that are not under migration pressure are expected to take in 30,000 particularly vulnerable persons each year. For every person not accepted, a compensation of €20,000 is due to the border state. However, the figure is a guideline rather than a binding quota, and the payment can be fulfilled through alternative forms of support such as personnel or logistical help. Switzerland has expressed willingness to join the mechanism but still needs a dedicated agreement with the EU, after which the Federal Council would decide annual contributions.

Implementation hurdles ahead

European Commission joint plans envisage nationwide roll‑out, yet many states lack the necessary infrastructure, staff or accommodation. Screening capacity at external frontiers remains incomplete, and the new rules apply only to applications lodged from Friday onward. The bulk of pending cases will continue under the old law, meaning Germany and other destination countries will feel the full effect only gradually. Observers caution that the launch, politically celebrated in Berlin and Bern, will be bumpy.