Denmark advertises how bad the country is to refugees / Exodus to Europe: Denmark’s refugee dilemma

Series Title
Series Details 08.09.15
Publication Date 08/09/2015
Content Type

Denmark's immigration ministry started in September 2015 to advertise in Lebanese newspapers recent changes to its migration policy, aiming to discourage migrants from coming to the country.

The adverts note that Denmark had reduced social benefits to migrants significantly, that those given asylum would not be allowed to have their families brought to the country during the first year, that a residence permit would only be delivered to those who speak Danish, and that rejected asylum seekers would be swiftly sent back to their home countries.

Danish social media reacted sharply to the publications, many opinions noting that the Danish authorities’ move sharply contrasts with Germany's welcoming attitude to refugees.

These developments were part of wider Danish government efforts. On the 3 September 2015 the government announced it would attempt to make obtaining Danish citizenship more difficult with four specific changes to current policy:

+ Language requirements to be strengthened
+ self-reliance test
+ Citizenship test
+ Criminal record

The Local.dk reported that hundreds of refugees in early September 2015 were trying to catch trains, hitch lifts and even walk from Denmark to Sweden. The Local looked into why so many new arrivals would rather seek asylum in sweden than in Denmark.

It also reported that Denmark's Integration Minister Inger Støjberg said on the 11 September 2015 that with the nation's opt-out on EU asylum policies, there was 'simply no reason' that Denmark should participate in the EU's plan to resettle asylum seekers (due to be discussed at a Justice and Home Affairs Council on the 14 September 2015).

Source Link Link to Main Source http://www.euractiv.com/sections/justice-home-affairs/denmark-advertises-how-bad-country-refugees-317417
Related Links
ESO: Background information: Immigration hits new record high in Denmark http://www.europeansources.info/record/immigration-hits-new-record-high-in-denmark/
ESO: Background information: Denmark to reimpose border controls 'within the Schengen rules' http://www.europeansources.info/record/denmark-to-reimpose-border-controls-within-the-schengen-rules/
The Independent, 08.09.15: Refugee crisis: Denmark discourages asylum seekers with newspaper adverts in Lebanon http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/refugee-crisis-denmark-discourages-asylum-seekers-with-newspaper-adverts-in-lebanon-10490666.html
The New York Times, 08.09.15: Denmark Discourages Migrants With Ads in Lebanese Newspapers http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/09/world/europe/denmark-migrant-crisis.html
BBC News, 07.09.15: Denmark places anti-migrant adverts in Lebanon newspapers http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-34173542
The Local.se, 07.09.15: Refugees try to walk from Denmark to Sweden http://www.thelocal.se/20150907/refugees-threaten-to-walk-from-denmark-to-sweden
Euronews, 08.09.15: Denmark: launches anti-migrant ad campaign http://www.euronews.com/2015/09/08/denmark-launches-anti-migrant-ad-campaign/
The Wall Street Journal, 07.09.15: Denmark Takes Out Ads to Tell Refugees They Aren’t Welcome http://www.wsj.com/articles/denmark-takes-out-adverts-to-tell-refugees-they-arent-welcome-1441630475
The Local.dk, 08.09.15: Hundreds of refugees 'disappear' in Denmark http://www.thelocal.dk/20150908/hundreds-of-refugees-disappear-in-denmark
The Local.dk, 07.09.15: Denmark publishes anti-refugee ad campaign http://www.thelocal.dk/20150907/denmarks-anti-refugee-ads-published-in-foreign-papers
The Local.se, 07.09.15: Refugees flee Danish police for Sweden http://www.thelocal.se/20150907/refugees-flee-danish-police-for-sweden
EUObserver, 07.09.15: Danish anti-migrant ads get hostile reception in Lebanon https://euobserver.com/beyond-brussels/130139
The Local.dk, 07.09.15: PM: 'The only solution is a European solution' http://www.thelocal.dk/20150907/danish-pm-the-only-solution-is-a-european-solution
The Local.dk, 03.09.15: 'Significantly harder to get Danish citizenship' http://www.thelocal.dk/20150903/significantly-harder-to-get-danish-citizenship-govt
EurActiv, 10.09.15: Denmark closes borders with Germany as migrants head to Sweden http://www.euractiv.com/sections/justice-home-affairs/denmark-closes-borders-germany-migrants-head-sweden-317510
BBC News, 09.09.15: Migrant crisis: Denmark-Germany rail links suspended http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-34203366
The Local.dk, 10.09.15: Why do refugees prefer Sweden to Denmark? http://www.thelocal.dk/20150910/why-do-refugees-prefer-sweden-to-denmark
The Local.dk, 10.09.15: Denmark-Germany trains resume amid influx http://www.thelocal.dk/20150910/danish-german-rail-service-resumes-amid-migrant-crisis
The Local.se, 10.09.15: Danish police: Refugees can travel on to Sweden http://www.thelocal.se/20150910/danish-police-allow-refugees-to-continue-on-to-sweden
Politiken, 11.09.15: Exodus to Europe: Denmark's refugee dilemma (via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE169576-Exodus-to-Europe-Denmark-s-refugee-dilemma
The Local.dk, 11.09.15: Denmark says no to EU's 160,000 refugee plan http://www.thelocal.dk/20150911/denmark-we-wont-take-any-of-the-160000-refugees
ESO: Background information: Denmark to hold EU referendum in December http://www.europeansources.info/record/denmark-to-hold-eu-referendum-in-december/
The Local.dk, 11.09.15: Danes want to apologize for anti-refugee ads http://www.thelocal.dk/20150911/danes-plan-new-campaign-to-counter-anti-refugee-ads
The Local.dk, 11.09.15: Refugees could affect Denmark's security: PET http://www.thelocal.dk/20150911/refugee-influx-could-affect-denmarks-security-pet
Deutsche Welle, 13.09.15: Migrants skip Denmark on the road to Scandinavia refuge http://dw.com/p/1GVqH
Deutsche Welle, 09.09.15: Denmark takes action against refugees http://dw.com/p/1GTSK
The Local.dk, 12.09.15: 30,000 rally for refugees in Copenhagen http://www.thelocal.dk/20150912/30000-rally-for-refugees-in-copenhagen
EUObserver, 11.09.15: Denmark says it already has 'fair share' of refugees https://euobserver.com/beyond-brussels/130224
Deutsche Welle, 14.09.15: 'I feel ashamed' - Danes react to refugee crisis http://dw.com/p/1GWSQ

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