Italy argues against EU migration limits

ROME, Nov. 7 (UPI) -- The prime minister of Italy suggested bolstering European Union rules against criminal behavior by migrant workers rather than limiting labor movement.

Prime Minister Romano Prodi said the recent rise in crimes committed by migrant workers illustrates that EU member states are not fully prepared for the enlargement of the union and ensuing immigration, the EU Observer reported Wednesday.

However, he said the EU should address rules against criminal acts committed by migrants rather then restrict the free movement of labor that has long been a cornerstone of the bloc.

He said the EU needs "more cooperation in the case of immigration by all European countries."

"What I am asking of the European Union is to have common rules in order to have repatriation more effective and to be more cooperative in all the side effects of these movements," Prodi said. "I prefer to have a Europe which is open to free circulation of all the Union citizens and regulate together all the criminal aspects of it."