Europe must limit influx of refugees: Dutch King

Europe must limit the current influx of refugees, Dutch King Willem-Alexander said in his King's Speech on Tuesday.

"The flow of refugees is growing and tolerates no waiting attitude, the current situation is creating tensions in Europe. This requires making tough choices to reduce inflows and a better distribution across the Member States," the Dutch King said.

"The harrowing images of people adrift that come to us daily from Kos and Calais present a host of problems and personal suffering, wherefore there are no easy and quick fixes. These problems are caused by military conflicts, political instability, human rights violations, poverty, and a lack of opportunity and future", said King Willem-Alexander.

The King said dealing with the situation as it now stood in Europe required conflict management, reception in the region, countering human trafficking, a strict but fair asylum procedure in each country, an effective return policy, and integration for those who cannot return to their country of origin.

"This is the only way to do justice to the humanitarian aspect and the social support in the Netherlands and other European countries," he concluded.

It is the third "Speech from the Throne" by King Willem-Alexander, who succeeded his mother in 2013. In the Netherlands, every year on the third Tuesday in September, a statement of the policy to be pursued by the government is given by the reigning monarch. Willem-Alexander addressed a joint session of the Dutch Senate and House of Representatives in the Ridderzaal (or Hall of Knights) in The Hague.

Dutch Minister of Finance Jeroen Dijsselbloem is to present the government's 2016 budget later in the afternoon. Endit