Order No. 16860 of 2024: Appeal Against the Transfer Decree and Special Chamber Procedure

On June 19, 2024, the Court of Cassation issued order No. 16860, which addresses a crucial issue in the field of international protection, namely the appeal against transfer decrees adopted by the Dublin Unit. This ruling provides important clarifications regarding the procedure to be followed and the applicable norms, emphasizing the need to ensure effective protection for asylum seekers.

The Regulatory Context

The ruling fits within a specific regulatory context, governed by Article 3 of Legislative Decree No. 25 of 2008, amended by Decree Law No. 13 of 2017. This legislation provides for a special chamber procedure for appealing transfer decrees, characterized by simplified forms and a certain urgency. The Court of Cassation clarified that, in such cases, the rules of ordinary procedure do not fully apply, thus allowing for greater procedural flexibility.

  • The specification of grounds for nullity is allowed even after the appeal has been filed.
  • There are no prohibitions during the oral discussion phase.
  • A priority harmonization between the speed of the procedure and the effectiveness of protection is necessary.

The Ruling’s Summary

International protection - Dublin Unit - Appeal against the transfer decree - Special chamber procedure - Ratio - Full applicability of ordinary norms - Exclusion - Subsequent specification of appeal grounds - Admissibility - Reasons - Case. Regarding measures adopted by the Dublin Unit, in the appeal procedure against the transfer decree, governed by Article 3 of Legislative Decree No. 25 of 2008, as amended by Decree Law No. 13 of 2017, which provides for a special chamber procedure, characterized by simplified forms and urgency, the rules of ordinary procedure do not fully apply, and therefore, the specification of grounds for nullity with notes subsequent to the appeal or during the oral discussion is permitted, in the absence of prohibitions and given the priority need to harmonize the speed of the procedure with the effectiveness of protection, imposed by Article 27, paragraph 1, of Regulation No. 604 of 2013. (In this case, the Supreme Court annulled the merit ruling, which had not examined the issue of the failure to fulfill informational obligations raised by the migrant in an authorized submission).

This summary highlights the importance of ensuring that migrants' rights are respected, particularly regarding the informational obligations that authorities must provide. The Court emphasized that failure to comply with such obligations can have a direct impact on the legitimacy of the transfer decree.

Conclusions

In conclusion, order No. 16860 of 2024 represents a significant step towards greater protection of the rights of asylum seekers in Italy. The flexibility introduced in the special chamber procedure and the possibility of specifying grounds for nullity are fundamental elements to ensure effective and timely protection. This measure not only clarifies the modalities of appeal but also reaffirms the importance of a fair process that respects human rights, in line with European and international regulations.

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