During a press conference in Rome, Grandi called on Italian politicians to avoid the possibility of opening up to racist ideologies: "I call on everyone to ensure that the language of politics doesn't create space for racially motivated behaviors," Grandi said.

"I'm not accusing anyone, but the language of politics has become very aggressive – not only in Italy – and it can give space to latent tendencies in society, to transfer tensions onto migrants and refugees," he added.

UNHCR to assist with draft law

Grandi said he had a "constructive" meeting with Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini, highlighting that the two spoke about migrant reception and integration: "We will continue to point out to the minister that it is very important to maintain support resources available for the people who arrive," Grandi said.

He also said that UNHCR would provide "technical" assistance with a draft law being prepared by the Interior Ministry on the issue of migrant reception and asylum. Grandi stressed that it will be "up to the government to decide whether to accept our observations."

Grandi emphasized that the current level of humanitarian protection of migrants in Italy should be maintained as a minimum with any changes to the law.

Grandi calls on EU solidarity

Grandi said that the European Union had not shown its solidarity with the recent spike in migrant arrivals in Italy, and suggested that member states should share the migrants arriving on Italy's shores among them.

"That's the only way to avoid crises," he said.

Grandi added that the absence of NGO rescue ships in the Mediterranean had reduced the capacity of rescue missions: "arguments with the NGOs have made it so that this capacity has been reduced," he said.

"There must be a sufficient capacity for rescuing (migrants)," Grandi said.