Germany has secured agreements with Greece and Italy to resume the acceptance of asylum seekers previously registered in those countries, a move heralded by German officials as a significant step towards reshaping European migration policy. The arrangements, finalized during a recent EU Interior Ministers’ meeting in Brussels, will see Germany recommence the repatriation of individuals who initially applied for asylum in Greece or Italy before continuing their journey to Germany.
According to reports from “Bild” Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) brokered the deals, which are slated to take effect from June 2026. These agreements directly address so-called Dublin cases, a longstanding point of contention within the EU’s asylum system where the responsibility for processing an asylum claim rests with the first country of entry. Greece and Italy have largely resisted such repatriations in recent years, citing legal hurdles and operational constraints.
Dobrindt characterized the development as a “genuine milestone” in the implementation of the European Asylum and Migration Pact, set to become fully operational in 2026. He explicitly stated Germany’s role as a “driving force” in the intensification of European migration policy, asserting the arrangements are intended to curtail irregular migration and bolster the viability of the EU asylum framework.
The agreement promises to alleviate pressure on Greece and Italy through enhanced border security measures and more efficient returns processes. In return for these commitments, Germany is expected to be exempted from obligations under the EU Solidarity Mechanism until mid-2027 – a recognition, according to the German Interior Ministry, of the substantial number of asylum seekers Germany has received in recent years. This acknowledges a perceived imbalance and is framed as a debt being settled.
However, the move is already drawing criticism from human rights organizations who argue it risks placing vulnerable individuals back into precarious situations. Concerns are being raised about the conditions in Greece and Italy, particularly regarding asylum processing and the treatment of migrants. Critics contend the focus on curbing irregular migration undermines Europe’s commitment to international obligations regarding the protection of asylum seekers.
Furthermore, while Dobrindt lauded the agreement as bringing “order” to European migration policy, the shift represents a continuation of a trajectory toward increasingly restrictive measures, including heightened border controls and revisions to national asylum laws across the EU. The core question remains whether these heightened restrictions, while politically expedient, truly address the underlying drivers of migration and uphold fundamental human rights. The long-term consequences for both the EU’s image and its moral standing are yet to be fully assessed.
