Danish PM says to further tighten asylum rules

Danish Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen on Wednesday said his government is ready to tighten rules for asylum seekers, as more immigrants from the Middle East and Africa continue to arrive in the small Scandinavian country.

"The pressure is increasing day by day. We accept our responsibility as we must, but we can not be open to everyone," Rasmussen told a press conference.

The prime minister said his government would introduce new initiatives aimed at bringing down the number of refugees and migrants who come to Denmark.

He explained that the duration of residence permits should be shortened, the requirements for family reunions tightened and benefits for asylum seekers reduced.

Moreover, the government will increase its efforts to send rejected asylum seekers out of the country, he added.

"We must ensure that begging does not become an everyday occurrence on our streets," Rasmussen said.

In October, some 3,500 refugees and migrants applied for asylum in Denmark, an all-time record for a single month, according to the Ministry of Immigration, Integration and Housing.

Rasmussen said the numbers will not decrease unless political action is taken.

Previously, Denmark has already taken a series of measures to deter the influx of refugees, including issuing temporary residence permits, delaying family reunifications and cutting benefits for asylum seekers.

In September, it also placed adverts in Lebanese newspapers to discourage migrants from coming to Denmark. Endit