We will use your email address only for sending you newsletters. Please see our Privacy Notice for details of your data protection rights.

Sign up fornow and never miss the top politics stories again.

The pledge from the former prime minister, and leader of the Forza Italia party, comes just one day after six Africans were shot by a far-right extremist in the central Italian city of Macerata.

Speaking in a TV interview, Mr Berlusconi also hit out at the European Union for failing to agree on a bloc-wide immigration policy which would share the burden of Italy’s migrant arrivals.

The Mediterranean nation is a favoured landing point for migrant boats making the treacherous journey from northern Africa.

He said: “Today, Italy counts for nothing in Brussels and the world. We will make it count again.