The Danish government on Monday launched an advertising campaign in foreign newspapers aimed at deterring refugees from coming to the country.
According to the Danish Immigration Service, the first advert that publicises Denmark's recent welfare cuts was published in four different Lebanese newspapers, Xinhua news agency reported.
The advert, entitled "Denmark has decided to tighten the regulations concerning refugees in a number of areas", lists seven measures refugees and migrants should take into account if they decide to head for Denmark, including the new cut in social benefits, no possibility of family reunification during the first year and quick repatriation of rejected asylum seekers.
Apart from meeting the language requirements, foreign nationals can be granted a permanent residence permit only after five years.
The ads are printed as the first wave of refugees began arriving in southern Zealand of Denmark from Austria and Germany over the weekend.
"We are in a special position in Europe and in Denmark and a special situation requires special solution," Denmark's Minister for Integration and Housing, Inger Stoejberg said.
"But we have always said that we do not want to be part of a common European asylum policy. Not even a temporary one," Stoejberg reaffirmed.
Official data shows that the number of asylum seekers in Denmark doubled in 2014 as compared to the previous year and Denmark took in the sixth highest number of asylum applications in 2014, when measured per capita.
