The government may amend a controversial measure under which asylum seekers from countries that are considered safe are required to pay 'bail' of just under 5,000 euros in Italy to avoid being detained while waiting for the outcome of their application, Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi said on Friday.
This legislation, drawn up in the wake of the February 26, 2023 shipwreck off Cutro in Calabria in which 94 refugees and migrants are known to have died, provided for the detention inborder locations of asylum seekers from so-called safe countries of origin for the duration of the asylum procedure unless theypaid 4,938 euros in bail.
Italy's Supreme Court of Cassation has asked the Court of Justice of the European Union to clarify whether the provisions of the so-called Cutro migrant decree are in conflict with European and international law.
The request came in relation to its examination of internalministry appeals against rejections by the court in Catania of detention orders issued for Tunisian asylum seekers in Sicily.
Piantedosi told a conference organized by Premier GiorgiaMeloni's Brothers of Italy (FdI) party that the government was considering rejigging the asylum-seeker deposit so the amount could be set on a "case-by-case" basis.
The migrant-bail measure is among the provisions that are mentioned in the agreement the government reached with Tirana to set up Italian-run migrant centers in Albania.
The EU Court of Justice on Thursday rejected the Cassation's request for it to deal with the issue urgently, saying it would follow the ordinary procedure.
Piantedosi told the conference that neither the Cutro decree northe Albania agreement had been given the thumbs down by theCourt of Justice.
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