Denmark’s Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said he was discussing with other European Union (EU) leaders the possibility of establishing an asylum camp for rejected asylum seekers, and that one such centre would be located in Europe outside the EU, Reuters reported on Wednesday.

Governments of Germany, the Netherlands, and Austria were among those discussing the issue in hope that the pilot project could pave the way for a new European asylum system, with more control than the current, Rasmussen told the media.

“I am optimistic. Based on the talks I had with other EU leaders, I expect the first step to be taken this year,” Denmark’s Prime Minister said.

“To be honest, the camp would be located in a country which is not one of the desired destinations of migrants of human traffickers,” Rasmussen added.

Some 1,000 migrants have entered Denmark in the first four months of 2018, much fewer than in 2015, when the number peaked at 21,000. Compared to the neighbouring Sweden and Germany, Denmark has accepted fewer asylum seekers compared to population size.

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