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Romano Prodi, who led the country from 2006 to 2008, said boats from EU member states that were rescuing migrants who then ended up on the Italian coastline were causing a strain between the country and Brussels bloc.

Mr Prodi, who was also president of the European Commission from 1999 to 2004, added the situation was desperate and Italian people were blaming the EU.

Speaking on the Today programme on BBC Radio 4, Mr Prodi said: The relationship between Italy and European Union is going down, down, down.

When you have insecurity, you generalise your attitude. Of course this is also an issue for neighbouring countries that they are guarding theyre own country against possible migration problems.

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The relationship between Italy and European Union is going down, down, down

Former Italian prime minister Romano Prodi

Also the tension with neighbouring countries is increasing.

He added: Nobody in Italy can understand how ships from many European countries, lets say British, Swedish, French, they rescue migrants and then all go to Italy.

The migrant crisis is causing huge unrest among Italians putting decisions by the Government into doubt.

The Italian government has been calling on theEuropean Unionto do more to help the country as it struggles to deal with the thousands of migrants who land on its shores every day.

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Refugees and migrants wait in a small rubber boat to be rescued off Lampedusa, Italy

But failure to secure more aid has caused the public to turn against the establishment.

And the Italian government has now delayed a vote to grant migrant children born in the country citizenship, fearing tensions will boil over.

Centre-left Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni was hoping to push through the bill that would give the children rights at birth or after at least five years of attending Italian schools.

But the vote has been put on hold until later this year.

More than 86,000 migrants have arrived in Italy so far this year, up ten per cent compared to the same period in 2016.

Immigration remains a thorny issue facing Italian politics as exasperated officials express discontent they are receiving little to no help from their European neighbours to deal with the escalating crisis.

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EU on BRINK: 'Down, down, down' Italy warns relationship with Brussels is at ROCK BOTTOM - Express.co.uk