Berlin, Mar 30 (AP) German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has raised the prospect that many Syrians who sought asylum in Germany in the wake of civil war in their native country, may return to their homeland over the next few years, saying they are needed to help rebuild the country.
Merz' assertion came after he met the interim president of Syria Ahmad al-Sharaa on Monday.
Syria is trying to rebuild and improve its economy after a long civil war, which killed nearly half-a-million people and caused widespread destruction, ended with the ouster of former president Bashar Assad in December 2024.
The war also prompted huge numbers of Syrians to flee the country. Germany was a favoured destination, and hosted more than 900,000 Syrian citizens last year. Many people who arrived from Syria have gained German citizenship in recent years.
Reducing migration in general, and stepping up returns of migrants who aren't entitled to stay, has been one priority of Merz's government, which took office nearly 11 months ago.
Merz emphasised during interim president al-Sharaa's first visit that Germany's priority is to send back migrants who have committed crimes to Syria. “We have a small group here, but a group that causes us problems, of Syrians who have offended whom we now urgently want to repatriate,” he said at a news conference.
“In the longer perspective of the next three years, that ... was the wish of President al-Sharaa, about 80 per cent of the Syrians currently living in Germany should return to their homeland,” he added. “We have an interest in those who live here, want to stay and are well-integrated … that these people stay in Germany. But many who are here are needed at home.”
Al-Sharaa didn't confirm the 80 per cent figure. He noted that the many Syrians in Germany include “6,000 doctors working in hospitals, and more than a quarter million people who pay taxes and contribute actively to the German economy,” and described them as “common national assets” to both countries.
"Therefore, we are working with our friends in the German government to establish a circular immigration model that allows skilled Syrians to contribute to the reconstruction of their motherland without giving up their stability and the lives they built here, for those who wish to stay,” al-Sharaa said.
The Syrian leader also attended a German-Syrian economic roundtable in Berlin as he sought support for his country's revival.
“You can count on Germany's support on the way to a good future,” Merz told al-Sharaa. “Success is more important than ever in view of the ongoing war in Iran in this region.” (AP) ARB
ARB
German chancellor says many Syrian refugees to return home to help rebuild their country
(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)