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Speaking from Pinzolo, Trento, the die-hard eurosceptic leader sent a stern warning to Brussels claiming Italy should start making cuts to annual funds sent to the European Union. Mr Salvini criticised the Brussels bloc for its lack of support over the latest migrant rescue boat docking in the Sicilian port of Catania last week. The Italian Interior Minister refused to give an authorisation for most of the migrants to disembark the boat until Italy received guarantees from other EU countries they would share the burden of asylum seekers. He told supporters in Pinzolo: “Europe has demonstrated once again to be unprecedented filth that doesn’t deserve our money.

“From the first to the last one of them, no one cared. “And I ask for your mandate to re-discuss the billions Italy sends to Brussels every year. “I think the time has come to make some cuts to funds given to a useless institution that turns its back when we most need it.” Repeated protests tried to pressure the authorities into letting the migrants ashore.

EU-Italy news: Matteo Salvini threatens to cut funds to 'filthy' Brussels over migration spat

The time has come to make some cuts to funds given to a useless institution Matteo Salvini

Only some children and others with health problems were allowed to disembark the rescue ship. Eventually, all migrants were allowed to disembark on Saturday night ending a five-day dispute between the EU and Mr Salvini. On Thursday, with no solution in sight, Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister Luigi Di Maio said the coalition government, formed of the Five Star Movement (MS5) and La Lega, would vote to suspend funding to the EU next year. They said they would do so if partners do not agree to take in migrants now being held on a coast guard ship in Sicily.