Finland and Austria resume migrant transfers to Italy under new EU asylum rules

Four European nations prepare migrant transfers

Finland announced on 20 August 2026 that it is preparing to resume asylum seeker transfers to Italy under the European Union's Asylum and Migration Management Regulation (AMMR). The move makes Finland the fourth European country to initiate or prepare returns to Italy, joining Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Austrian authorities confirmed that four asylum seekers have already been sent to Italy with bus and train tickets provided by the government. In Switzerland, officials announced plans to transfer 652 individuals to Italy after the end of August 2026. The Finnish Interior Ministry stated that the active EU regulation establishes the legal foundation for transfers to resume.

It is crucial for Finland that the rules on accountability for examining asylum applications are applied as intended and that all EU Member States fulfill their obligations under the Pact.

Dispute over the June 12 implementation cutoff

A central point of contention between Rome and its northern European counterparts is the cutoff date for Dublin returns. The new EU Migration and Asylum Pact entered into force on 12 June 2026, replacing the earlier Dublin framework. The Italian government, led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, maintains that Italy will only accept asylum seekers who arrived after 12 June 2026. Rome argues that earlier cases were closed under prior agreements, while partner nations seek to process pending returns under the new framework. A bilateral dispute between Rome and Berlin developed after Italy rejected transfer requests for three individuals, including 22-year-old Somali national Faduma Abdirisaq Warsame, who reached Germany in March 2026 to escape an arranged marriage and reunite with her mother.

Mounting backlogs and Schengen border checks

Between 5 December 2022 and 31 December 2025, approximately 80,000 transfer requests accumulated for Italy after Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi issued a circular halting Dublin returns. In the five years before that directive, Italy accepted over 17,000 returned asylum seekers. According to Eurostat data, more than 24,000 people across Europe could be subject to transfer to Italy, though only 85 have returned so far. The friction follows border tensions in late July 2026, when thousands of Moroccan migrants crossed into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. Italy responded by temporarily suspending Schengen provisions and reinstating border checks with Spain, leading Madrid to introduce reciprocal measures.

Diplomatic negotiations and political reactions

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani discussed border controls and European protection with German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul following the disputes. Under the new pact, member states can substitute mandatory relocations with financial contributions of €20,000 per person, a provision Rome seeks to leverage alongside demands concerning migrants rescued by foreign NGO ships. In Rome, centrist lawmaker Riccardo Magi criticised the government for relying on aggressive measures rather than European solidarity. Christopher Hein, a professor of immigration law at Luiss University in Rome, observed that Italy backed the pact to secure wider provisions for returning migrants to safe third countries. Bilateral negotiations between Rome, Berlin, and other European capitals remain ongoing regarding the implementation of the new rules.