Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz raised the prospect on Monday that many Syrians who fled to Germany could return to their homeland in coming years, as he met Syria’s interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa in Berlin. Merz made the case that Syrians who remain in Germany are not only part of Germany’s society but, in a longer perspective, can also help rebuild Syria’s economy after years of war.
At a news conference during the visit, Merz emphasized that Germany’s immediate priority is to send back to Syria people who have committed crimes. He said, “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.”
Merz then expanded on the returns discussion to the wider Syrian community living in Germany. In remarks to reporters, he said that in “the longer perspective of the next three years,” it was al-Sharaa’s wish “about 80% of the Syrians currently living in Germany should return to their homeland.” Merz argued that “many who are here are needed at home,” while adding that Germany has an interest in those who “want to stay and are well-integrated” continuing to live in Germany.
Syria’s interim president did not confirm the “80%” figure. Al-Sharaa said the Syrian population in Germany includes people who can contribute immediately in their host country and that those people are also assets for Syria’s future. He cited “6,000 doctors working in hospitals” and “more than a quarter of a million people who pay taxes and contribute actively to the German economy,” describing them as “common national assets” for both countries.
Al-Sharaa also described a plan geared toward mobility rather than purely permanent displacement reversal. He said the two governments were working on “a circular immigration model” that would allow skilled Syrians to contribute to the reconstruction of Syria “without giving up their stability and the lives they built here, for those who wish to stay.”
The talks unfolded against the backdrop of Syria’s efforts to recover after a civil war that, according to the report, killed nearly half a million people and caused widespread destruction. The war ended with the ouster of former President Bashar Assad in December 2024, and it also prompted huge numbers of Syrians to flee, with Germany described as a favored destination.
The report said Germany still hosted more than 900,000 Syrian citizens last year and that many Syrians who arrived in recent years have gained German citizenship. Germany’s government has set reducing migration and stepping up returns of people not entitled to stay as one of its priorities since Merz’s coalition took office about 11 months ago.
In addition to the meetings with Merz, al-Sharaa attended a German-Syrian economic roundtable in Berlin as he sought support for Syria’s revival. Merz told al-Sharaa, “You can count on Germany’s support on the way to a good future,” citing “the ongoing war in Iran in this region” as a factor shaping the broader political and security outlook.
The visit also underscored the tension between Germany’s focus on repatriations, including for Syrians who have committed crimes, and Syria’s emphasis on reconstruction needs and keeping skilled residents engaged through a “circular immigration model.”