France, May 21 -- The European Union unveiled plans on Tuesday to make it easier to send asylum seekers to third countries to which they have no connection, in the latest overhaul aimed at reducing migration to the bloc, intensifying the debate over migration policy and sparking criticism from rights groups.

The European Commission said it proposed broadening the so-called "safe third country" concept, which allows member states to "consider an asylum application inadmissible when applicants could receive effective protection" elsewhere.

The new proposal would expand this definition, giving governments greater flexibility in redirecting asylum seekers to safe non-EU nations.

Italian court rules outsourced migrant detentions in Albania ...