(ANSAmed) - LUXEMBOURG, JUNE 6 - The EU Interior Ministers have given a go-ahead to the directive for repatriation of the non-EU illegal immigrants and Italian Interior Minister Roberto Maroni sees a confirmation of the fact that the government has chosen the "right way", focusing on introduction of the crime of illegal immigration. According to Maroni, the directive, which is now waiting for a difficult passage at the European Parliament, supports the choice of the Berlusconi government to focus on the crime of illegal immigration to assure secure expulsions in short time. Maroni explained that the directive envisages that the states could proceed to immediate expulsion in case there is a criminal sentence or an additional sentence. The minister insisted that the philosophy of the crime of illegal immigration is not aimed at 00filling the prisons with thousands of people", but at assuring the real carrying out of the expulsions. Maroni admitted that the position of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi on the crime has a relevant weight which will be taken into consideration, even if the doubt of the Prime Minister is not "ideological", but in reference to its concrete enforceability. "If this is the objection, be calm and you will see that it will be resolved," Maroni assured. If Maroni says he returns in Italy calm, the issue of the directive passes to the European Parliament where three groups, the socialists, the European left-wing and the Green Party oppose, while the Peoplés Party, the Liberal-Democrats and the right-wing EU group will support it. But in view of the vote on June 18, the match is still open and the vote compactness in the groups is not predictable. There are different disputed subjects within the MEPs, which caused concern also among the European bishops. The most disputed measures are the possibility to detain an immigrant waiting for expulsion up to 18 months, the ban to re-enter Europe for five years and the possibility that the directive could be applied to minors too. The Slovenian EU rotating presidency strongly hopes that the EU Parliament will approve the text without changing it at first reading. The European Commission considers that the directive marks a significant progress also as regards the respect of the rights and the legal guarantees for the illegal immigrants. The last obstacle is in Strasbourg. (ANSAmed).