Italy eyes more rigid rules for immigrants

Italy's next government should create a minimum income requirement for immigrants, including those from other EU countries, the man expected to be Italy's new foreign minister said.

Franco Frattini, who holds the EU's top justice and security post and is a long-time ally of Prime Minister-elect Silvio Berlusconi, said the income requirement would become necessary for visits of more than three months.

"We need a national law that establishes a minimum income below which foreigners cannot stay in our country for more than 90 days," Mr Frattini said in an interview published yesterday in Il Giornale newspaper, owned by Mr Berlusconi's brother.