Austria Sends Migrants Back to Italy
Listen to the story
Austria has begun sending migrants back to Italy under European asylum rules.
The people affected are asylum seekers who first entered the European Union through Italy before travelling on to Austria.
Under a system known as the Dublin Regulation, the country where a migrant first arrives in Europe is usually responsible for handling their asylum request.
This means that if someone applies for asylum in Austria but entered the EU through Italy, Austria can legally transfer them back to Italy.
According to Austrian authorities, four people have already been sent back to Italy since June 12.
These cases are officially described as "Dublin transfers," referring to people who must return to the first EU country they entered.
The Austrian government says these transfers are part of a broader effort to enforce existing EU asylum rules more strictly.
Officials have suggested that more transfers could follow in the coming weeks, though no exact numbers have been given.
Italy has not yet issued a detailed public response to the reports.
The story highlights ongoing tension within the EU over how asylum responsibilities are shared between member states, particularly countries like Italy that receive large numbers of arrivals by sea.
The Dublin system has long been criticised by southern European countries, which argue it places an unfair burden on nations where migrants first arrive.
Northern and central European countries, including Austria, have at times pushed for stricter enforcement of these rules to reduce the number of asylum seekers remaining on their territory.
Vocabulary10 words
- migrant
- a person who moves to another country, often to find safety or work
- asylum seeker
- a person asking a government for protection because of danger at home
- Dublin Regulation
- an EU rule that decides which country must handle an asylum request
- transfer
- to officially move a person from one country to another
- authorities
- government officials with power to act
- enforce
- to make sure a rule is followed
- member state
- a country that belongs to the European Union
- burden
- a heavy responsibility or problem
- arrival
- a person who has just come to a place
- policy
- an official plan of action decided by a government
Quiz
Answer key
1. The Dublin Regulation 2. Four 3. It places extra responsibility on countries where migrants first arrive
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Austria has begun sending _____ back to Italy under European asylum rules.
The people affected are asylum seekers who first entered the European Union through _____.
Under a system known as the _____, the country where a migrant first arrives is usually responsible for their asylum request.
Austria can legally _____ them back to Italy.
According to Austrian authorities, _____ people have already been sent back since June 12.
These cases are officially described as "_____ transfers."
The Austrian government says these transfers are part of a broader effort to _____ existing EU asylum rules.
The Dublin system has long been criticised by southern European countries, which say it places an unfair _____ on them.
Northern and central European countries, including Austria, have pushed for stricter _____ of these rules.
Discussion questions
- Do you think it is fair that migrants must be sent back to the first EU country they entered?
- Why might Austria want to enforce the Dublin Regulation more strictly?
- What problems could this policy create for Italy?
- How could EU countries share responsibility for asylum seekers more fairly?