Italy doesn't need "charity" from the European Union, far-right interior minister Matteo Salvini said on Tuesday, referring to a reported plan from Brussels to pay member states 6,000 euros for every rescued boat migrant.
"If they want to give money to someone else let them do so, Italy doesn't need charity," said Salvini, who is also deputy premier.
He was commenting on a Financial Times report that the European Commission is will propose paying 6,000 euros for each migrant rescued in the Mediterranean and sheltered "on a voluntary basis" by an EU country in "controlled centres", up to a maximum of 500 migrants.
The EU executive's plan has been sent to European capitals for consideration, the FT said, noting that EU leaders agreed at their June summit that countries could the "controlled centres" on voluntary basis.
