A three-day meeting of the 16 state interior ministers, along with Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt of the CSU, concluded without reaching an agreement on the future treatment of Syrian refugees, according to reports from the Interior Ministers’ conference. A unified resolution ultimately failed.
The discussion presented differing viewpoints, as both Hesse (representing the CDU-led states) and Lower Saxony (representing the SPD-led states) had initially submitted proposals concerning the legal stay of Syrians in Germany. The SPD proposal aimed not only at the repatriation of criminals but also at establishing pathways to permanent residency for Syrian refugees. In contrast, the proposal from Hesse was much broader.
Roman Poseck, the Interior Minister of Hesse (CDU), implicitly demanded that the return of the over 500,000 Syrians who currently hold only temporary protection status back to their countries of origin should be considered. Poseck told the magazine that different opinions surfaced regarding well-integrated Syrian refugees who do not currently possess permanent residency status. He expressed skepticism about residency permits that extend beyond current legal frameworks, arguing they could create false incentives. According to him, protection for the Syrian war refugees was fundamentally intended to be temporary, not geared towards immigration.
Despite this, Poseck noted that both CDU and SPD states reached a consensus that deportations to Syria should potentially be possible in the future, particularly for criminals and danger persons. Furthermore, they agreed that voluntary returns should be supported, even with moderate financial assistance. Additionally, the Federal Interior Minister, Alexander Dobrindt (CSU), reportedly opposed granting prospects for permanent residency to Syrians who have not yet obtained a long-term residence permit.
On the other side, Daniela Behrens, the SPD Interior Minister of Lower Saxony, regretted that a consensus could not be reached with all Union-led states regarding Syrian refugees. She reiterated her demand for a structured process to ensure the consistent repatriation of criminals to Syria. However, she also emphasized that the Federal Minister must ensure that highly integrated Syrians who adhere to the rules, work hard in Germany, and contribute daily to keeping the country functioning, are given a reliable prospect of staying.
Currently, over 900,000 Syrians reside in Germany. The majority hold temporary residence permits issued for humanitarian reasons, which must be renewed every three years. Following the end of the Syrian Civil War in December 2024, the Union, in particular, is calling for an end to this practice. Günter Krings, Deputy Chairman of the Union parliamentary group in the Bundestag (CDU), recently told a news magazine: “I currently see no grounds, at least among Sunni men, to extend a purely humanitarian residence permit.”
