Germany’s plan, announced by Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, is facing economic challenges that suggest a potential failure. The high financial cost is one of the main obstacles, along with legal complexities. German politicians have increasingly called for the return of Syrian refugees following the fall of the Assad regime. Meanwhile, migration and asylum remain key political topics in the election campaigns leading up to the national elections scheduled for next February.
The Federal Interior Minister recently announced a plan to return Syrian refugees to their home country. However, the plan stipulates those well-integrated individuals—those who are employed, learning German, and have stable housing—will be allowed to remain in Germany. This announcement has raised concerns among the more than 700,000 Syrian refugees currently in the country. Additionally, approximately 260,000 Syrians have successfully obtained German citizenship.
Alberto Horst Neidhardt, a senior political analyst at the European Policy Center, cautioned that the significant expense of Germany’s proposed measures might result in their failure. He explained, “Implementing this decision and conducting case reviews would be extremely costly, as each case must be assessed individually.”
Neidhardt also warned against calls for the forced return of Syrian refugees, especially after Austria submitted a deportation and repatriation plan for Syria to the European Union. He pointed to the legal complexities surrounding forced returns, as European law requires individual assessments for each case. Additionally, European law mandates monitoring of every repatriation process. Neidhardt emphasized, “Human rights protection must be strengthened by establishing mechanisms to identify potential violations.”
During the Justice and Home Affairs Council’s meeting last month, Magnus Brunner, the EU Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, stated that “the forced return of Syrian refugees is not possible at the moment.” According to the Euractiv website, a spokesperson for the European Commission indicated that returns might be possible “provided they are voluntary, safe, and dignified.”
During her visit to Turkey, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that the EU is collaborating with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to ensure that conditions for voluntary returns are met. A spokesperson for the Commission stated that the EU will maintain active cooperation with the UN agency to monitor ongoing developments.
Jean-Nicolas Beuze, the UNHCR representative, emphasized the importance of prioritizing human rights and providing essential services. He stated, “We must ensure that individuals have adequate access to essential services, including education, clean drinking water, and electricity. Additionally, the new system must guarantee freedoms and rights for all groups and minorities.”
Before Germany can revoke temporary residence permits for Syrians and initiate return procedures, the German Foreign Ministry must officially declare Syria a safe and stable country—a process that could take considerable time. In the meantime, Syrian residents in Germany continue to feel anxious. According to the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees, 94% of Syrians do not wish to return to Syria.
According to Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper, Syria’s economic instability is a major factor in Syrians’ desire to stay in Germany. Additionally, many Syrian families have enrolled their children in German schools, and after years of living in Germany, some have even forgotten the Arabic language.
