Conflict with Berlin: Italy remains firm on migrant readmission

Italy has reaffirmed its stance against repatriating so-called secondary migrants from Germany who arrived before the implementation of the Common European Asylum System (CEAS) on June 12. This position was communicated by Rome following a meeting between Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi and his German counterpart, Alexander Dobrindt of the CSU, on Thursday. The Italian government emphasized that it will not return individuals who entered Germany prior to CEAS coming into effect. According to reports, 22-year-old Somali woman Abdirisaq W., along with two other migrants, were scheduled to be flown back to Italy on August 19. Abdirisaq had left her home country in 2020 after being forced into marriage and embarked on a years-long journey through Ethiopia, Kenya, and Libya before arriving on the Italian island of Lampedusa via a refugee boat on February 27, 2026. She was subsequently taken to a reception center in Milan, where she disappeared from official records for some time. Through connections with the local Somali migrant community, she managed to travel overland to Germany, where she was registered as an asylum seeker on March 31. Under CEAS rules, she must now be returned to Italy. Rome is insisting that only secondary migrants who arrived in Germany after the introduction of CEAS should be repatriated. Additionally, Italy argues that Germany must compensate the country financially for migrants rescued by German humanitarian organizations' vessels in the central Mediterranean and brought to Italian ports. During a hearing before a parliamentary committee, Interior Minister Piantedosi stated that 2,200 such migrants have arrived in Italy since the start of the year, with 500 of them arriving after CEAS took effect. That means roughly one in eight of the approximately 17,600 migrants registered in Italy this year arrived via a German rescue ship. Piantedosi clarified during the committee session that neither the demand for compensation payments from Berlin nor the suspension of Schengen rules regarding travel with Spain should be interpreted as hostile acts. Instead, he stressed that these measures relate to issues of fairness and national security. Following the surge in migrants attempting to reach the Spanish enclave of Ceuta in northeastern Morocco at the end of July, Italy introduced checks on travelers from third countries arriving by sea and air from Spain starting August 1. These checks resulted in three arrests and 21 rejections, including six Moroccan citizens, according to Piantedosi. The situation highlights growing tensions between Italy and Germany over migration policies within the European Union. Italy's refusal to repatriate certain migrants has been met with resistance from Berlin, which views the move as a challenge to the CEAS framework. Meanwhile, Italy continues to push for financial compensation from Germany for the costs associated with accommodating migrants rescued at sea. Germany has expressed concerns over the implications of Italy’s actions, particularly regarding the potential disruption of the CEAS and the broader EU asylum system. Officials in Berlin have called for dialogue and cooperation to resolve the issue, emphasizing the need for a unified approach to managing migration flows across Europe. In response to the increased number of migrants reaching Italian shores, the Italian government has implemented stricter border controls and enhanced monitoring of arrivals from neighboring countries. These measures aim to prevent unauthorized entry and ensure compliance with existing immigration regulations. However, they have also drawn criticism from human rights groups and international organizations concerned about the treatment of migrants and asylum seekers. As negotiations continue between Rome and Berlin, the focus remains on finding a compromise that respects both national sovereignty and the principles of the CEAS. With the upcoming repatriation of Abdirisaq W. and others looming, the situation underscores the complex interplay of legal, political, and humanitarian considerations shaping migration policy in Europe.