On Wednesday 13 May 2009, the Italian lower house of Parliament approved legislation, which criminalizes irregular migration. This is the latest effort by Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi's centre-right alliance to get tough on "illegal" migration. The legislation makes entering or staying in Italy without permission a crime punishable by a fine of € 5,000 to € 10,000 and it also imposes a prison term of up to three years for anyone who rents housing to an undocumented migrant. But the bill does not lift the ban on health professionals to report undocumented migrants to the authorities.
EU Observer, http://euobserver.com/22/28124