Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni unexpectedly raised objections to the EU-proposed return regulation, marking a significant U-turn on a migration policy she had previously championed, Euractiv reported.
Rome’s concerns over the EU’s returns regulation are gaining momentum, with the Italian Senate warning that elements of the proposal risk creating a “procedural burden” severe enough to sabotage the regulation’s effectiveness.
Central to Italy’s pushback is opposition to the European return order, which would require mutual recognition of deportation decisions between member states. The Senate cautions this could “obstruct enforcement” and erode national sovereignty, particularly regarding the imposition of re-entry bans.
Meanwhile, the EU’s Migration and Asylum Pact faces operational hurdles as member states race to implement the framework before its activation next summer. A recent Commission assessment reveals Italy is among several countries at risk of missing critical June 2026 deadlines for mandatory migrant screening infrastructure.
All 27 nations must designate sites for border procedures by April 2026, yet none have done so. The Commission warns delays are inevitable without urgent action on procurement and financing. Italy and Germany face heightened risks due to lengthy procurement cycles, with Estonia and Greece in even greater jeopardy.
The EU also voiced concerns over Italy’s plan to establish an independent Fundamental Rights Monitoring Mechanism, a non-negotiable requirement under the Pact. While 23 member states integrated such systems, Italy, Bulgaria, and Malta raised “critical concerns,” the Commission said.
Italy had strongly backed the EU’s broader migration reforms this term, including the returns regulation and an expanded safe-countries list designed partly to resolve legal disputes over its Albanian migration centres.
The returns regulation, unveiled in March as the system’s “missing piece,” would permit “return hubs” outside the bloc. The parliamentary vote was postponed to 25 June.
