Call to screen rescued asylum seekers at sea

The right-wing interior ministers of Austria and Italy have called on the EU to hold rescued migrants at sea until their asylum claims are processed.

Austria’s Herbert Kickl put forward the idea at an EU migration conference in Vienna and his Italian counterpart, Matteo Salvini, supported it. Hundreds of thousands of migrants try to reach the EU in risky sea crossings.

Mr Kickl said ships would use a “quick way” to clarify who was entitled to asylum but he did not give details.

Mr Salvini is under investigation in Italy for refusing to let rescued migrants disembark in Italy last month.