European Justice and Security Commissioner Franco Frattini on Wednesday expressed concerns about aspects of an Italian government bill on immigration.
Addressing a conference in Rome, Frattini said he was worried about changes to some of the conditions for granting foreigners residency permits, particularly plans to allow would-be immigrants to "sponsor" themselves.
"If a would-be immigrant sponsors himself, there is no guarantee he has not been the victim of gangs that traffic workers," said Frattini.
Under the current system, only foreigners with an Italian work contract are allowed a residency permit and if they lose their job before the permit expires, they are required to leave the country.
Frattini said he had not seen the final version of the government bill, which has been several months in the making.
"I'll look it over properly when it's ready but I already have strong concerns about this self-sponsorship scheme," he said.
The commissioner, a foreign minister in Italy's former, centre-right government, admitted immigration was vital for Europe's future, but said it was crucial "to avoid transforming illegal behaviour into something acceptable".
CABINET MAY APPROVE REFORM PLANS THIS WEEK.
Meanwhile, Welfare Minister Paolo Ferrero told the same conference the final version of the bill would almost certainly be put to the cabinet this week.
Ferrero, who co-drafted the proposed legislation with Interior Minister Giuliano Amato, said there was a 90% chance the document would be examined at Friday's meeting.
Plans to present the bill have been postponed several times, reportedly following disagreements between its two main drafters.
The centre left promised a comprehensive overhaul of Italy's immigration legislation as part of its electoral platform a year ago.
But there are broad differences of opinion within the nine-way governing coalition on how far to go.
Ferrero on Wednesday denied there were plans to create a separate minister with sole responsibility for immigration-related issues.
"The current situation, in which immigration is dealt with by several ministries, is the best one," he said.
The immigration bill, which seeks to ease restrictions on foreigners enacted by the last government, is expected to propose changes in a variety of fields.
A plan to reduce the number of Italy's migrant holding centres from 14 to just five has attracted most attention.
Critics say the centres are basically prisons, where migrants are kept in overcrowded conditions and without fundamental rights.
But the centre-right opposition has described the planned reduction as a publicity stunt, accusing the government of failing to organize suitable alternatives for accommodating newly arrived migrants.
In addition, the bill is expected to include proposals to grant certain immigrants the vote and make it easier for them to gain Italian citizenship.
It would also give immigrants the automatic right to bring certain family members into the country, including children under the age of 18, dependent parents and disabled or sick relatives.
Between 1.5 and 1.8 million foreigners living in the country are expected to take advantage of the new measures if they are approved.
According to the centre-left, one of its main reasons for changing existing legislation is to facilitate the process of approving residency permits.
Both Ferrero and Amato touched on the issue on Wednesday.
The welfare minister described the 70-euro fee for renewing residency permits as "robbery", and promised to push the matter with local councils as soon as possible.
Addressing parliament, Amato said the massive backlog in approving permits was "largely the result of systems adopted to balance immigrant labour demand and supply under existing legislation".
He admitted there was "a real problem" and said the government would continue doing its best to try to resolve the issue.
A report released by the welfare ministry on Wednesday showed that over three million foreigners are currently living in Italy. At least 350,000 of these are here illegally, either having entered without permission or remaining in the country once their permits expired.
