Sweden intends to return migrants to Italy in cases where Dublin rules assign Rome responsibility for asylum claims, a spokesperson for Migration Minister Victoria Holmqvist confirmed. Transfers under the Dublin regulation have functioned more smoothly since the EU's new migration and asylum pact took effect on 12 June 2026, Holmqvist said.
Finland is also preparing to transfer migrants to Italy under the revamped framework, its interior ministry said. Austria has already sent four migrants back, while Germany has signalled openness to resuming returns to Italy and Greece. Switzerland, though not an EU member, announced transfers would restart from late August.
Italy received 24,152 transfer requests in 2025, the highest in the bloc. Rome had blocked incoming returns in late 2022, citing full reception facilities. Opposition leader Elly Schlein criticised Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni for suspending Schengen rules toward Spain while Nordic states restart transfers. The new pact allows states to substitute relocations with a €20,000-per-migrant compensation payment.