EU moves to fast-track asylum claims by migrants from seven countries

The Italian navy ship Libra approaches port, as Italian authorities transfer 40 migrants with no permission to remain in the country to Italian-run migration detention centres in Albania (Vlasov Sulaj/AP)

Migrants from Bangladesh, Colombia, Morocco and Tunisia are unlikely to be granted asylum in Europe and should have their applications fast-tracked so they can be sent home more quickly, the European Union’s executive branch has said.

The European Commission said seven countries – also including Egypt, India and Kosovo – should be designated as “safe third countries”.