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Italy: On 23 July the Italian Senate approved the law transforming the security package decree into law

01 July 2008

Full-text (link). The main measures adopted - having an impact on EU and non-EU citizens - are similar to those already contained in the decrees:

- Aggravating circumstance of being irregular on Italian soil: being a clandestine/illegal immigrant becomes an aggravating circumstance: penalties are 1/3 higher for illegal immigrants who commit a crime; this is valid for EU citizens and non-EU citizens (which amounts to a discrimination on the basis of nationality among EU citizens);

- Easier Expulsions: judges can order expulsions in a wider series of circumstances; foreigners, including EU citizens, can be expelled if they have no revenue or have been caught committing a crime. Expulsion, also of EU citizens, can be ordered for crimes punished with 2 years detention (before it was 10 years). Those who violate the repatriation order, including EU citizens, can be punished with a custodial sentence of between 1 and 4 years (violation of the free movement directive);

- "Centri di permanenza temporanea" (Cpt - Centers for temporary permanence) and "centri di permanenza temporanea e assistenza" (Cpta - Centers for temporary permanence and assistance) are renamed and becorme "centri di identificazione ed espulsione" (Cie - Centers for identification and expulsion). Those who admit false identity risk a penalty of between 3 and 6 years;

- Prison for those who provide housing to clandestines: anybody renting or anyway providing housing to foreigners who are not regularly on the Italian soil can bee punished with a custodial sentence of between 6 months and 3 years. The house or apartment can also be seized;

- Mayors and Prefects will have more powers in terms of public order, while local and State police will collaborate more. The Mayor will indicate those who are in an irregular situation on Italian soil to be expelled (the application of the free movement directive is left to local authorities, making it difficult to check compliance)

- Ministry of Interiors: Cabinet of the Minister: Guide lines for the implementation of the ordinances of the President of the Council of Ministers 30/05/2008,N.3676, 3677 and 3678, regarding settlements of nomad communities in the Regions Campania, Lazio and Lombardy (pdf)

- Ministero dell Interno: GABINETTO DEL MINISTRO LINEE GUIDA PER L'ATTUAZIONE DELLE ORDINANZE DEL PRESIDENTE DEL CONSIGLIO DEI MINISTRI DEL 30 MAGGIO 2008, NN. 3676, 3677 E 3678, CONCERNENTI INSEDIAMENTI DI COMUNITÀ NOMADI NELLE REGIONI CAMPANIA, LAZIO E LOMBARDIA (pdf)

- SECURITY A LA ITALIANA: Fingerprinting, Extreme Violence and Harassment of Roma in Italy - by European Roma Rights Centre, Open Society Institute, Romani Criss, Roma Civic Alliance in Romania and Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions (pdf)

- Situation of Roma in Italy and Report of the visits and meetings of Marco Cappato and Viktoria (ALDE MEPs) in Rome, 17-18 July 2008 (pdf)

- Red Cross document (pdf)

- European Parliament Resolution: Census of the Roma on the basis of ethnicity in Italy: European Parliament resolution of 10 July 2008 on the census of the Roma on the basis of ethnicity in Italy (pdf)

- Letter from Jonathan Faull, Director General DG Justice, Freedon and Security, to Italian government Permanent Representative in Brussels: Letter full-text (pdf)

- Italy to jail clandestine migrants (euobserver, link)