The Danish government said Thursday it had voluntarily agreed to accept 1,000 refugees out of the 120,000 migrants the EU plans to relocate to ease the burden on frontline states.

"In light of the extraordinary situation, we have today told the parties in parliament that the government will offer to receive a limited number of asylum-seekers. The number is 1,000 people," Integration Minister Inger Stojberg said at a joint press conference with Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen.