Four EU nations seek endorsement for ‘fast-track’ migrant plan

Four European Union nations are proposing a “fast-track system” for getting migrants off boats in trouble in the Mediterranean Sea and the asylum-seekers on board divided among countries willing to take them.

A statement obtained by European civil liberties watchdog Statewatch says Germany, France, Italy and Malta foresee a process that would screen migrants, relocate asylum-seekers and return those who don’t qualify or never applied for protection - all within four weeks.

The Associated Press confirmed the statement’s authenticity on Tuesday.

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The sponsoring nations plan to seek approval from other EU members next week.

The document says EU members prepared to take in asylum-seekers and handle their applications would make “pre-declared pledges” of some kind.

It says the EU would provide “financial, technical and operational assistance” to those countries.