Several European countries tighten rules on asylum seekers

A volunteer carries a migrant baby after the arrival of a rubber dinghy packed with refugees and migrants on a beach on the Greek island of Lesbos, January 29, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

BRUSSELS -- In recent days, several European countries rolled out tougher asylum regulations, as the European Union (EU) remains under tremendous pressure due to an influx of migrants.

SWEDEN PLANS TO DEPORT ASYLUM SEEKERS

Sweden is planning to deport up to 80,000 asylum seekers over the next few years, a government representative said on Thursday.

Swedish authorities received some 163,000 asylum applications in 2015 but the country is now planning to step up deportation efforts, Interior Minister Anders Ygeman told public broadcaster Swedish Television.

A spike in deportations should not be expected until a year from now, the minister said.

Swedish authorities were planning to charter jets for the specific purpose of sending migrants back to their home countries, the minister said.

The government is mulling over introducing government benefits for returnees, Ygeman added, meanwhile stressing the importance of stopping failed asylum seekers from staying in Sweden.

Asylum admissions peaked in Sweden in November when the country admitted up to 10,000 migrants per week, according to figures from its migration agency.

The Swedish government has since early 2016 been imposing fines on train, ferry and bus operators whose passengers enter the country from Denmark without valid photo identification.