Brussels sees reception in order, but Italy remains a sticking point
The European Commission sees progress with the migration pact, but warns that transfers between member states are still stalling.
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The European Commission says EU countries are now reporting sufficient reception capacity for asylum seekers. At the same time, gaps remain in implementing the rules, particularly when returning asylum seekers to the country responsible for processing their application. Italy is receiving extra attention because it handles many arrivals following sea rescue operations.
On Thursday, the Commission presented its second annual cycle for migration management. In it, Brussels assesses migration pressure in the member states and proposes a new solidarity package for 2027. The Council of the EU must still decide how large the package will be and what contribution each country will make.
According to the Commission, irregular border crossings fell by more than a third in the first half of 2026. In the two preceding years, there had already been a decline of more than 50 per cent, Brussels writes. The number of secondary movements and asylum applications is also said to have fallen, while return operations are increasing. These figures come from the Commission’s own assessment.
The Commission reports that member states are declaring sufficient reception capacity and are trying to clear backlogs in asylum procedures. That does not mean every transfer can be carried out immediately. Brussels specifically writes that further efforts are needed concerning the responsibility rules and the practical return of asylum seekers between member states.
According to the Commission, Italy is a country under migration pressure because of a disproportionate number of arrivals following search-and-rescue operations at sea. The country is therefore eligible for support from the solidarity package. At the same time, the Commission says that Italy is preparing for the new rules and considers its reception network suitable for receiving transferred people.
An earlier assessment by the European Commission nevertheless shows why the issue has not automatically been resolved. In the first weeks after the new pact was introduced, twelve transfer requests to Italy were rejected and transfers had not yet resumed. The Commission noted at the time that Italy was making preparations, but that concrete indications that cooperation had resumed were lacking.
Dutch judges also raised questions in September about returns to Italy. The Central Netherlands District Court ruled that the minister had not sufficiently demonstrated that returned asylum seekers would actually receive shelter, food and running water there. The Commission’s new assessment may influence the political debate about returning people to Italy, but it is not a judicial decision on individual cases.
For the Netherlands, it is particularly important that the Commission classifies the country as a member state at risk of migration pressure. That label provides access to a European support instrument, but does not yet establish any specific contribution or transfer. The next step lies with the member states: they must approve the solidarity package and decide how responsibility will be divided in practice.
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One story, several perspectives
What is established
- The European Commission says that member states are reporting sufficient reception capacity.
- The Commission identifies Italy as being under migration pressure and flags remaining problems with transfers.
- Dutch judges ruled in September that the minister had not sufficiently substantiated transfers to Italy.
- The Council of the EU must still decide on the solidarity package for 2027.
Left
Arguments The priority should be access to reception and individual fundamental rights. A general European assessment must not be used to authorise transfers as long as it has not been established that people in Italy will actually receive shelter and basic provisions.
Values Human dignity, legal protection and responsibility for vulnerable people.
Consequences Faster transfers may be postponed, meaning the Netherlands remains responsible for asylum procedures and reception for longer.
Centre
Arguments The migration pact can work only if both solidarity and responsibility are implemented in practice. European reporting should therefore be combined with concrete guarantees and case-by-case assessment.
Values The rule of law, practicality and European cooperation.
Consequences Implementation will probably proceed gradually: support for countries under pressure may go hand in hand with controlled transfers where legally possible.
Right
Arguments The EU should place more responsibility on the country of first arrival and actually carry out return procedures. If Italy has sufficient capacity according to Brussels, the Netherlands should not continue handling all procedures itself unnecessarily.
Values Border management, national practicality and limiting secondary migration.
Consequences More transfers could reduce pressure on Dutch reception facilities and implementing organisations, but failed transfers and new court cases could instead slow the system down.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The article’s core is based on the European Commission’s recent publication and is supplemented by a Dutch court ruling and an earlier EU assessment. The text distinguishes between reported capacity, practical transfers and judicial review.
- confirmed On 5 November 2026, the European Commission published its second annual cycle for migration management. — This is stated in the Commission’s publication date and summary. source
- confirmed The Commission reports sufficient reception capacity but identifies remaining problems with transfers. — The Commission explicitly mentions both points in its assessment. source
- confirmed According to the Commission, Italy is under migration pressure because of arrivals following search-and-rescue operations at sea. — This appears in the Commission’s country classification. source
- confirmed In September, Dutch judges prohibited transfers to Italy in three cases. — The Central Netherlands District Court describes the three rulings and the reason for them. source
- confirmed Twelve transfer requests to Italy were rejected in the first weeks of the pact. — This appears in the cited EU assessment covering the period from 12 June to 7 July 2026. source
Editor's note
It is certain that the Commission published a new migration assessment on 5 November, attributed migration pressure to Italy and identified remaining problems with transfers. The assessment does not automatically authorise transfers from the Netherlands; court rulings and individual circumstances remain important.Sources
- Commission launches second Annual Migration Management Cycle — Europese Commissie
- Asielzoekers mogen door minister niet aan Italië worden overgedragen — Rechtspraak.nl
- Verslag over de uitvoering van het migratie- en asielpact — EUR-Lex
More on this in Dutch media
- AD — „asiel migratiepact”
- de Volkskrant — „asiel migratiepact”
- RTL Nieuws — „asiel migratiepact”