European officials proposed allowing people to apply for asylum in Europe from abroad, part of a package of measures intended to discourage dangerous, illegal journeys like the one that cost the lives of hundreds of immigrants off the coast of Italy in October.
Ms. Keller said migrants should be allowed to legally travel to EU member states under a normal visa, where they can get immediate protection and legal assistance in the process of applying for asylum, rather than risk retaliation by making the application at home.
The commission proposal also includes financial assistance of €6,000 a refugee to member states that agree to help airlift and resettle people out of conflict zones. Only a few EU member states currently participate in the U.N. refugee-resettlement program for Syria.
