Dispute Over Dublin Transfers Strains Relations with Rome
The Federal Ministry of the Interior insists on following the agreed-upon procedures, while the Italian government brings the German rescue ships into the picture
Berlin – Germany is proceeding with its planned transfers of asylum seekers to Italy. The Federal Ministry of the Interior stated on Wednesday that it was somewhat surprised by the uproar in Rome, noting that the two countries have been cooperating well on migration policy. The transfers will take place as planned.
The basis for this is the new Common European Asylum System, which has been fully in effect since June 12, 2026. Under this system, the country in which a person first entered the European Union is generally responsible for the asylum proceedings. Anyone who enters via Italy and later files an application in Germany is to be returned. The first case involves a 22-year-old Somali woman whose transfer is scheduled for August 19. So far, there have been several dozen such cases in total.
Rome sees it differently. The Italian Ministry of the Interior stated that there are currently no cases in which Italy is required to take back migrants from Germany. Arrivals before the June deadline have been addressed through an agreement with major European partners. For cases arriving after that date, there is simply not enough time to even assess where the individuals in question are located.
Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani sought to downplay the tensions. He spoke of an issue that could be resolved, but at the same time pointed to the rescue ships flying the German flag that repeatedly bring rescued people to Italian ports. In his view, a balance is needed here. Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini took a much harsher stance, demanding that Berlin first revoke the German flag from the aid organizations before a single person is sent back. Formally, these organizations are private entities that are not under the authority of the federal government.
The conflict is not limited to two capitals. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told Parliament in Copenhagen that her country is prepared to close its borders if necessary should migration flows increase again. Such plans could be implemented within a few hours.
Ceuta has sparked this new wave of unease. At the end of July, tens of thousands of people from Morocco breached the barriers surrounding the Spanish exclave. Calls for another mass border crossing on August 15 are circulating on social media, and Spanish security authorities consider them credible. Italy has responded by suspending free travel to Spain for the time being, until Ferragosto. Madrid, for its part, is screening arrivals from Italy and has called Rome’s move incomprehensible.
