Swedish gov't looks to boost spending on incoming refugees

The Swedish government said on Thursday it would increase spending on refugee admissions in its upcoming fall budget as Europe mulls how to tackle an ongoing migration crisis.

An extra 1.8 billion SEK (215 million U.S. dollars) would go to municipalities that receive new refugees, and these municipalities can get as much as 50 percent of the grants hike, daily newspaper Dagens Nyheter reported.

"This is a significant boost for municipalities," Labour Market Minister Ylva Johansson told reporters at a press conference.

In the budget proposal, due to be presented later this month, the center-left minority government will propose to raise schools' reimbursements for taking in asylum applicants.

The government also wants to decide that all of Sweden's nearly 300 municipalities welcome refugees as opposed to leaving it open for local governments to decide, as has been the case.

"All municipalities must take their share of responsibility. No one should cop out," said Prime Minister Stefan Lofven.

Sweden received the highest number of asylum applications per capita in the European Union last year and looks set do so again in 2015. (1 U.S. dollar = 8.36 SEK) Endit