Europe is facing record migrant arrivals, up 13 percent year-on-year, and Italy is one of the most affected countries. More than 123,800 irregular migrants arrived this year, the last time the country saw such high numbers was in 2016.

CONTROVERSIAL APPLICATION

Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has vowed to take a tougher stance against the influx of migrants, stressing in every statement that Italy will not turn Europe into a refugee camp.

A government decision on migrants, which was published in the Official Gazette and came into force on Friday, was the target of criticism today.

5 THOUSAND EUROS TO STAY FREE AND WAIT

According to an Italian Interior Ministry decree, migrants seeking asylum in Italy will be free to wait for the results of their applications if they pay 4938 euros.

This payment, called 'financial guarantee', will be demanded from those coming from countries that Italy categorizes as 'safe'. Those from these countries are more likely to have their asylum applications rejected.

Those who make the payment will have their applications evaluated in a fast-track process of a maximum of 28 days, during which time they will not have to spend in border centers where conditions are similar to detention.

"IF YOU PAY 5 THOUSAND EUROS, YOU WON'T END UP IN A CONCENTRATION CAMP"

The controversial application has sparked reactions on the grounds that the Italian government treats migrants like 'human traffickers'. While human rights pointed out that the money demanded is too high for refugees to pay, main opposition party MP Matteo Orfini said, "The government offers a Libyan-style mechanism to migrants: Pay 5,000 euros and you won't end up in a concentration camp," said Matteo Orfini, the main opposition MP, adding that this practice is unconstitutional.

Riccardo Magi, leader of More Europe, argued that it was a 'bribe' and said: "The government regulation that requires asylum seekers to pay 5,000 euros to avoid detention is smuggling by the state.

ITALIAN PRESS HEADLINED 'THE PRICE OF FREEDOM'

The Italian press also reacted to the government's decision. Il Manifesto newspaper announced the decision with the headline "The price of freedom". Il Domani newspaper, on the other hand, ran the headline "The government is like human traffickers".

MELONI: WE WILL GET TO THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM

"It is certainly a very complex problem, but I am sure we will get to the bottom of it," Prime Minister Meloni told TG1, emphasizing that their work on irregular migration has not yielded the results they had hoped for but that they plan to do better.