A new migration dispute has erupted between Berlin and Rome. Italy has refused to take back three asylum seekers whom Germany planned to return there to examine their cases. Berlin believes that Italy is responsible for these applications under the Dublin Regulation of the European Union (EU).

The first such return was scheduled for Wednesday. One of the three cases is that of a 22-year-old Somali citizen who, according to German authorities, first entered the EU through Italian territory and then moved to Germany to stay with relatives.

Berlin believes that the return of such people to Italy has become possible again after the entry into force of the new EU migration pact on June 12. Germany has sent around 35,900 requests to EU countries to take back migrants by 2025, but only around 5,400 transfers have actually been carried out.

Rome disagrees with this interpretation. Italian authorities argue that these cases relate to the period before the new rules come into force, and also refer to an agreement to close old cases. Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi has said that previous commitments have effectively been “zeroed out.”