Italy demands compensation from Germany over migrant arrivals
Italy has dramatically escalated its dispute with Germany over migration, demanding that Berlin contribute financially after German aid organisations helped bring thousands of migrants rescued in the Mediterranean to Italian ports.
According to figures released by Italy’s Interior Ministry, around 22,500 migrants were brought to Italian ports by German aid organisations since Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni took office in October 2022. In total, about 42,300 people arrived in Italy aboard private rescue vessels during that period.
Rome says the German share could be even higher. Around 4,500 additional migrants arrived on vessels operated by other European aid groups but sailing under the German flag. Italy therefore estimates that almost two-thirds of migrant arrivals by private rescue ships can be linked to German organisations.
Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi has called on Germany to share the financial burden. Rome has also made clear that it does not want to accept migrants being transferred from Germany to Italy until the question of financial responsibility is addressed.
The dispute has already affected plans to transfer three migrants from Germany to Italy. They originally entered the European Union through Italy before travelling to Germany and applying for asylum there. Rome has warned that it could refuse to receive them and instead send them back to Germany.
Under EU rules, the country where a migrant first enters the bloc is generally responsible for processing an asylum application. New rules introduced in June retain this principle while also providing exceptions and a solidarity mechanism. German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt and Piantedosi are continuing discussions in an attempt to find a solution.
Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini has meanwhile attacked private sea-rescue organisations, calling on the governments in Berlin and Madrid to “rein in” groups operating in the Mediterranean. He argues that such organisations should no longer be allowed to bring migrants to Italian shores.
Aid organisations strongly defend their rescue operations, pointing to the dangers of the Mediterranean crossing. The central Mediterranean remains one of the world’s deadliest migration routes. According to the International Organization for Migration, at least 872 people have died or gone missing on the route so far this year, although the real figure could be higher because not every incident is recorded.