EU offers states funding to take in migrants

European Commissioner for Migration Dimitris Avramopoulos Tuesday proposed financial incentives to European Union member-states to take in migrants from Mediterranean rescue boats as Italian authorities continue to turn away such vessels.

The proposals effectively expand on those that were agreed at a tense EU summit earlier this month prompted by the stance of Italy's new populist government.

The proposal foresees offering funding to volunteer countries to set up and and run centers to assess whether people qualify for asylum in Europe or should be sent home as economic migrants. It also foresees that volunteer nations get 6,000 euros for every asylum seeker they admit from those "controlled centers."

"We are ready to support member-states and third countries in better cooperating on disembarkation of those rescued at sea," Avramopoulos said in a statement. "But...