Italy will continue to shelter to those fleeing war, natural disasters and persecution, premier Giuseppe Conte said on Wednesday after the populist government issued a heavily criticised decree toughening the rules for refugees and asylum-seekers.
"We will never turn away those who have the right to refugee status, those who are fleeing from serious situations including war, persecution and natural disasters or various forms of violence," Conte said.
Moreover, Italy will respect international law and never repatriate people to countries where they would not be safe, Conte stressed.
One-year 'special residency permits' will be granted which can be converted into work and study permits, preventing "abuse" of international protection, Conte said.
Humanitarian protection - a lower level of asylum status based on Italian rather than international law - which was granted to 25 percent of asylum seekers last year will in future be awarded based on six strict criteria under the decree.
Italy's president Sergio Mattarella has up to 60 days to sign the decree and it must then be passed into law by parliament.
The decree, which makes it easier to expel migrants and strip them of Italian citizenship, was issued by the government in late September.
