David Blunkett's controversial plans for refugee havens in third countries are set to be given the green light by the European Union.Officials in Brussels have signalled the commission will back proposals to process refugees in non-EU countries - in a move that will effectively create a common European asylum policy.

The home secretary has championed the initiative as a way of cutting the number of people claiming asylum in the UK which he revealed has topped 100,000 for the first time.

The announcement came in the same week that the prime minister claimed Britain had turned the corner" in its fight to combat asylum abuse.

On Tuesday the European Commission is expected to welcome "zones of protection" in countries such as Albania or the Ukraine, Turkey, Iran, Northern Somalia and Morocco.

The commission warned that the countries chosen must have ratified one of three conventions on human rights.

These are the Geneva Convention on refugees, the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms or the 1966 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Transit centres would process migrants attempting to enter Europe and the EU is also set to back fast track deportations to illegal immigrants who fail to make asylum status.

Asylum seekers will be held in the camps - often countries adjacent to conflict zones - for six months while stability is restored to in their home country.

Under plans set to be agreed by the commission those needing longer-term asylum will be shared among EU countries under a quota system.

The proposals will effectively herald a common asylum policy and will prompt claims by refugee groups that "fortress Europe" is slamming its door.

Europe's justice and home affairs ministers will discuss the measures next month and "broad support" is expected.

The plan is being strongly pushed by the UK but is meeting with stiff German resistance.

EU officials say Germany's interior minister, Otto Schily, has his "own issues" with pushing through tough immigration legislation.