A majority of Germans are reportedly in favor of a significant number of Syrian citizens living in Germany returning home. According to a survey published by the news magazine Focus, 56 percent of German citizens believe that a large portion of Syrian nationals should return within the next three years.
This move follows statements made by Chancellor Friedrich Merz of the CDU, who mentioned the potential return of 80 percent of Syrian refugees within the next three years during a visit by Syrian Transitional President Ahmed al-Scharaa at the end of March.
Currently, the Federal Ministry of the Interior notes that only 9,867 Syrians have returned since the end of the conflict in December 2024. For comparison, there are currently 930,112 Syrian citizens living in Germany, most of whom hold temporary residence permits based on subsidiary protection or refugee status under the Geneva Convention.
To encourage more Syrians to return, Joachim Herrmann, the Minister-President of Bavaria (CSU), has proposed making the return incentives more attractive. Speaking to Focus, he stated that stronger financial support is necessary, particularly for individuals who lack sufficient funds to secure themselves during the initial months following their return. Currently, Syrians receive an average of 1,000 euros for repatriation. Furthermore, Hans-Eckhard Sommer, the head of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees, has recently called for significantly higher incentives for volunteers choosing to return home.
