Sweden, Denmark impose new border controls

BRUSSELS

Sweden has introduced identity checks for all travellers from Denmark for the first time since 1950s in an attempt to stem the flow of refugees seeking to enter the country.

Security staff is stopping travellers from crossing the Oresund Bridge, which connects Copenhagen and Sweden’s third largest city Malmo, unless they carry their valid photo identity or passport.

Hours later, Denmark, which according to its immigration ministry expects 20,000 asylum seekers this year, announced on Monday that it too had stepped up control on its southern border with Germany to stem the flow of refugees.

"Those who do not wish to seek asylum should be stopped at the border and not allowed into Denmark," Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen told a press conference in Copenhagen Monday.

"We do not want to see that refugees and migrants are walking on our highways once again," Rasmussen said.

More than 150,000 people have sought asylum in the welfare country Sweden, which has taken in the most refugees per capita of its population in Europe.

Sweden’s Prime Minister Stefan Lofven said in November last year that his country had been “naive” about immigration when he announced curbs to offering permanent residence to asylum seekers.

BRUSSELS

Sweden has introduced identity checks for all travellers from Denmark for the first time since 1950s in an attempt to stem the flow of refugees seeking to enter the country.

Security staff is stopping travellers from crossing the Oresund Bridge, which connects Copenhagen and Sweden’s third largest city Malmo, unless they carry their valid photo identity or passport.

"Those who do not wish to seek asylum should be stopped at the border and not allowed into Denmark," Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen told a press conference in Copenhagen Monday.

"We do not want to see that refugees and migrants are walking on our highways once again," Rasmussen said.

More than 150,000 people have sought asylum in the welfare country Sweden, which has taken in the most refugees per capita of its population in Europe.

Sweden’s Prime Minister Stefan Lofven said in November last year that his country had been “naive” about immigration when he announced curbs to offering permanent residence to asylum seekers.