Ministry of the Interior releases National Implementation Plan for Pact measures following a court decision

Italy’s National Implementation Plan for the European Union’s Pact on Migration and Asylum was made available following a legal dispute over access to the document. It provides a detailed overview of the measures envisaged to adapt the country’s asylum and reception systems to the new European framework.

The plan was initially withheld by the Ministry of the Interior, despite a ruling by the Lazio Regional Administrative Court in March 2026. The court had annulled the ministry’s refusal to disclose the National Implementation Plan, which sets out the actions, reforms and resources considered necessary for the implementation of the EU Pact. The document was subsequently transmitted to a journalist in the context of enforcement proceedings initiated to obtain compliance with the ruling. However, the version made available did not include the sections relating to the estimated costs of implementing the measures.

The publication comes after the entry into application of the new EU migration and asylum framework on 12 June 2026 and the adoption in Italy of Decree Law No 100/2026, which introduced measures related to justice and the implementation of the EU Pact. As a result, parts of the original implementation plan have been overtaken by subsequent legislative and administrative developments.

Nevertheless, the document provides an overview of the planned changes across several areas of the Italian migration and asylum system. These include the updating of databases, cooperation and solidarity mechanisms with other EU Member States, reception and integration services for asylum seekers, and the external dimension of migration management.

Among the measures outlined are plans to expand the network of hotspots currently used for screening procedures, as well as the identification of locations where border procedures could be carried out. The plan also refers to specific reception arrangements for vulnerable individuals who may be subject to such procedures.

The document further envisages an increase of at least 200 places in administrative detention facilities under one of its implementation components, alongside additional resources for health screening, Territorial Commissions responsible for examining asylum applications, and judicial authorities.

In the area of reception, the plan foresees an expansion of capacity within the SAI system and increased training for personnel. At the same time, the available documentation provides more limited detail on the practical implementation of access to free legal advice and information, as well as procedures for identifying vulnerabilities.

The plan also indicated that, as of December 2024, a monitoring mechanism envisaged for screening and border procedures had not yet been identified.

While the financial sections of the version subsequently released were redacted, an earlier investigation by Altreconomia, which reported on the contents of the plan, estimated that implementing the measures associated with the Pact could cost Italy more than EUR 2 billion over 5 years.

According to that analysis, some of the largest projected expenditure items included approximately EUR 507 million for legal aid, EUR 327 million for the recruitment of 1,403 magistrates and officials to handle appeals, and EUR 210 million for the construction of five new Centres for Repatriation.

The implementation plan therefore provides a broader picture of the infrastructure, staffing and administrative changes envisaged by Italy as it adapts to the EU’s new migration and asylum rules. The eventual impact of these measures, as well as the full costs of implementation, will depend on subsequent legislative decisions, funding allocations and the practical application of the new framework.