Italy refuses to accept migrant returns from Germany

EU migration pact asylum seekers Dublin system migrant returns Mediterranean NGOs

Italy has announced it will not accept the return of migrants from Germany, despite the implementation of a new EU Asylum and Migration Pact that entered into force in June 2026. Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini stated that Germany has no right to return illegal immigrants to Italy as long as German-flagged NGO ships continue to transport migrants from North Africa to European ports.

Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi reported that German NGOs have brought more than 2,200 migrants to Italy since the start of 2026. This refusal comes amid growing pressure from several EU member states, including Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Finland, Sweden, the Netherlands, and most recently Ireland, which are requesting that Italy take back asylum seekers who first entered the EU through Italian territory under the principle of first entry responsibility.

Since 2023, Italy has rejected approximately 80,000 return requests from other states, citing the strain on its national reception system. While Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has defended the new EU pact as a positive turning point for strengthening the protection of first-entry countries, the refusal to cooperate on transfers is causing significant tension between Rome and Berlin and raising concerns about the stability of the new European migration architecture.

Entities

European Union · Germany · Giorgia Meloni · Italy · Lega · Matteo Piantedosi · Matteo Salvini

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 33 SOURCES] A new EU asylum and migration pact (Geas) has been in effect since mid-June. www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · www.t-online.de · www.waltroper-zeitung.de · www.businessdaily.gr · www.insider.gr · +26 more
[● 32 SOURCES] Salvini cited the presence of German NGO ships in the Mediterranean as a reason for refusing returns. www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · www.t-online.de · www.waltroper-zeitung.de · www.businessdaily.gr · www.insider.gr · +25 more
[● 31 SOURCES] Italy has not returned a single migrant from Germany since the new pact took effect. www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · www.t-online.de · www.waltroper-zeitung.de · www.businessdaily.gr · www.insider.gr · +24 more
[● 32 SOURCES] Italy will not take back migrants from Germany for the time being. www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · www.t-online.de · www.waltroper-zeitung.de · www.businessdaily.gr · www.insider.gr · +25 more
[● 30 SOURCES] Italy has rejected approximately 80,000 return requests from other states since 2023. www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · www.t-online.de · www.waltroper-zeitung.de · www.businessdaily.gr · www.insider.gr · +22 more
[● 3 SOURCES] Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi stated that German NGOs have brought more than 2,200 migrants since the beginning of 2026. unzensuriert.de · www.halternerzeitung.de · www.marler-zeitung.de
[● 9 SOURCES] Seven EU member states are requesting that Italy take back asylum seekers who first entered the EU through Italian territory. fjala.al · www.072info.com · aduc.it · de.euronews.com · fr.euronews.com · +4 more
[● 6 SOURCES] Italy unilaterally suspended the acceptance of asylum seekers transferred under the Dublin system in 2022. fjala.al · de.euronews.com · fr.euronews.com · it.euronews.com · pt.euronews.com · +1 more
[○ 1 SOURCE] The Italian government refused to accept a small number of asylum seekers sent from Germany, claiming it was too early to implement the new rules. www.rights.no
[● 10 SOURCES] The new EU Pact on Migration and Asylum, which entered into force in June 2026, reinforces the principle of first entry responsibility. fjala.al · www.072info.com · aduc.it · de.euronews.com · fr.euronews.com · +5 more
[● 5 SOURCES] The European Commission and the Court of Justice of the EU have ruled that Italy's suspension of transfers violated its obligations. fjala.al · de.euronews.com · fr.euronews.com · it.euronews.com · pt.euronews.com