Italy Refused Asylum Seekers Returned by Switzerland
Italy has declined to accept Dublin Regulation transfers despite ongoing bilateral readmission agreements.
Updated on Sept. 19, 2026 in Immigration
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Italy failed to accept asylum seekers returned by Switzerland as of late August 2026. This rejection persists despite Switzerland's continued efforts to repatriate irregular migrants to the country.
Why it matters
The impasse highlights ongoing friction over the Dublin Regulation, which dictates that migrants must seek asylum in their first point of entry into the European Union. Italy halted these specific transfers in December 2022 following the start of the Meloni administration.
Switzerland continues to return 15 irregular migrants per day under a bilateral readmission agreement. However, Italy has not accepted any Dublin Regulation transfers since the Swiss government announced plans to resume them in mid-August 2026.
The players
Italy
This nation serves as a primary point of entry for migrants entering the European Union.
Switzerland
The country functions as a non-EU participant in the Dublin Regulation transfer system.
European Union
This political and economic union sets the standardized asylum regulations for member states.
The details
Switzerland attempted to resume Dublin Regulation returns at the end of August 2026, but the process remains blocked by Italy's ongoing refusal. While Italy continues to honor a separate bilateral readmission agreement, it has maintained a total freeze on Dublin-based transfers since December 2022.
Timeline
December 2022: Italy halted all readmissions of asylum seekers.
June 2026: New EU Asylum and Migration Pact rules came into force.
mid-August 2026: Swiss government announced plans to resume repatriations.
end of August 2026: Switzerland intended to resume Dublin Regulation returns.
October 2026: EU to publish interim report on cooperation.
Political Context
Opponents of strictly enforced Dublin Regulation transfers argue that border nations face an unfair, disproportionate burden of processing asylum seekers. This perspective fuels the resistance from the Meloni administration toward adhering to the current repatriation framework.
This policy gridlock impacts the legal status and movement of migrants currently seeking asylum within the European transit zone. It creates direct regulatory uncertainty for individuals caught between bilateral agreements and the broader EU pact rules.
The takeaway
The tension between national administration policies and EU-wide regulations continues to define the European migration landscape. Clearer resolution on these transfer disputes is unlikely until the EU publishes its upcoming cooperation report in October.
What happens next
The European Union is scheduled to publish an interim report regarding member state cooperation in October 2026, which may address the status of these contested asylum transfers.
Further reading
Learn more about the broader European migration policy landscape in our Immigration section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by SWI swissinfo.ch.
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