According to civil society organisations, there are obstacles to access the international protection procedure in Trieste, raising concerns about compliance with national and European laws. This is the main finding of the report “Access Denied. Report on Obstacles to Access to the International Protection Process and Reception Measures in Trieste”, which was presented at the Press Club by ICS, IRC, Diaconia Valdese, Linea d’Ombra, No Name Kitchen, GOAP, Fondazione Luchetta and Cdcp.
The report is based on monitoring activities throughout 2025, including the collection of hundreds of field testimonies, legal assistance provided to more than 1,400 individuals, formal communications to the authorities, and an analysis of the relevant legal framework. According to the report, each day dozens of people approach the Immigration Office of the Trieste Police Headquarters to apply for asylum, while an estimated 10–12 are able to enter the offices, and only some of them complete the formal registration of their application.
The organisations report that, on average, applications are registered approximately 3 weeks after an initial attempt to apply, with some cases reportedly extending beyond 30 or 60 days. During this period, individuals may remain without documentation confirming their intention to seek asylum and without access to reception services, healthcare or registered residence.
The report describes a range of practices that the authors consider inconsistent with procedural safeguards, including non-transparent access criteria, removals without written justification, access reportedly conditioned on possession of identity documents, informal checks of mobile phones, verbal referrals to other police stations or other European countries, limited protection measures for vulnerable individuals, additional barriers affecting unaccompanied minors, and the issuance of expulsion orders despite an expressed intention to seek asylum.
According to the report, these conditions contribute to situations in which individuals may remain without formal accommodation for extended periods, including in informal settings such as the former Porto Vecchio area. The organisations estimate that in autumn 2025 more than 200 people per day were living in such conditions, with over 100 individuals reportedly still without shelter despite recent relocation efforts. The report notes that, in light of relevant European case law, such situations may raise concerns regarding standards of treatment.
The organisations further state that these dynamics affect both the individuals involved and the broader urban context, contributing to social strain and perceptions of institutional gaps in addressing accommodation and procedural access.
Through the report, the signatory organisations call on the competent authorities to review current practices to ensure alignment with legal standards. Their recommendations include strengthening administrative capacity for timely registration of asylum applications; ensuring safeguards related to electronic device checks; establishing priority procedures for vulnerable individuals, particularly unaccompanied minors; consistent application of age-assessment rules; greater transparency in access procedures; and the creation of a permanent technical forum involving the Police Headquarters, the Prefecture, civil society actors, and protection organizations.
In a joint statement, the organisations emphasised the importance of ensuring that procedures are conducted in accordance with the law and indicated that they plan to raise the issues outlined in the report during a forthcoming meeting with the Police Headquarters.