Italy refuses migrant returns from Germany as Rome impounds rescue ship

Dispute over Mediterranean arrivals

Relations between Rome and Berlin have deteriorated over the handling of boat migrants arriving across the Mediterranean Sea. Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini announced over the weekend that Italy will refuse to take back any migrants from Germany while German non-governmental rescue organizations continue operating in the Mediterranean. Speaking at a Lega party meeting in the northern Italian city of Trento, Salvini argued that Germany cannot transfer asylum seekers to Italy while German ships transport rescued migrants into Italian ports.

Germany has no right to send back even a single illegal immigrant to us as long as German NGO ships are operating in the Mediterranean to bring thousands of illegal immigrants ashore in Italy and Europe.

Maritime law argument and ship impoundments

The stance is shared across Italy's three-party right-wing coalition led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Both Meloni and Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, who belong to the Fratelli d'Italia party, demand compensation for migrant intakes. Italian officials argue that maritime law establishes the legal jurisdiction of the vessel's flag state on board rescue ships. Under this interpretation, Italy maintains that Germany acts as the effective country of first entry when German-flagged vessels perform rescues.

According to data from Rome, German rescue ships have brought 2,200 migrants to Italian ports since the beginning of 2026. Italian authorities have repeatedly penalised German civilian operations in response. Over the weekend, Piantedosi ordered the impoundment of the German vessel Sea-Watch 5 for 45 days. Authorities also imposed a 4,500 euro administrative fine on the Sea-Watch aid organisation.

Stalled Dublin returns and European tensions

The disagreement persists despite the entry into force of the new EU Asylum and Migration Pact in mid-June 2026. Under traditional Dublin regulation rules, asylum seekers must lodge their applications in the first European Union country they reach. Berlin has sought to return secondary migrants who originally entered the bloc via Italian shores before travelling north. Several other European governments, including Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Finland, have similarly announced plans to transfer migrants back to Italy.

Despite these requests, Italian Interior Ministry figures show that Italy has accepted only three migrants from European partner nations since the start of 2026, with zero returned from Germany. The rejections continue a broader policy established in 2023, during which Italy has turned down approximately 80,000 readmission requests from other European states due to an overloaded national reception system.

Upcoming ministerial talks and domestic politics

German and Italian interior ministers plan to address the impasse directly in an upcoming bilateral meeting. Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi is scheduled to confer with German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt of the Christian Social Union. While German representatives have reiterated in recent days that bilateral migration cooperation remains close, Rome maintains its refusal to resume intake without structural concessions.

Domestic political dynamics in Italy continue to influence Rome's firm migration posture. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni built her electoral platform on strict border controls, and polls place Fratelli d'Italia leading all competitors with stable support of around 27%. In early September 2026, the 49-year-old leader will mark the longest continuous tenure of any Italian prime minister since 1945 ahead of national elections scheduled for next year.