The chairman of the Advisory Council for Integration and Migration, Winfried Kluth, criticises Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s return plan for Syrian refugees. Merz, together with Syrian President Ahmed al‑Sarraj, has called for 80 % of Syrians living in Germany to return home within three years. Kluth told “Handelsblatt” that such an ambition “creates false expectations and unsettles the affected people, and this should be avoided”.
While the urge to return is understandable given the need for reconstruction in Syria, the conditions for safe re‑entry are rarely met, especially if returning individuals still face danger. Kluth warned that it is “hard to assess whether a secure return is currently possible”. Reports indicate that violence and armed clashes continue in northern and northeastern Syria, and the humanitarian and economic situation remains dire. “Many houses and streets are destroyed, and there is a shortage of jobs and housing” he added.
He further urged that the interests of the refugees and the needs of the German labour market be considered. “Many Syrians live and work well integrated here, and their children attend school” Kluth observed.
