German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa announced a joint agreement aimed at returning Syrian refugees from Germany during al-Sharaa's visit to Berlin on Monday. According to reports, the two leaders agreed that 80% of Syrians currently in Germany should return to Syria over the next three years.
Germany hosts the largest Syrian diaspora in the European Union, with more than one million Syrians living in the country, many of whom arrived during the 2015-2016 migrant crisis. Chancellor Merz, who has prioritized stricter immigration policies since taking office last year, stated that the two governments are "working jointly towards more Syrians being able to return."
working jointly towards more Syrians being able to return
This marked al-Sharaa's first visit to Germany since he ousted longtime Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad in late 2024. The Syrian president, a former Islamist rebel leader, proposed establishing a "circular" migration model that would allow Syrians to contribute to their homeland's reconstruction while maintaining stability in Germany for those who wish to stay.
The visit drew mixed reactions in Berlin, with protesters gathering outside the foreign ministry waving Kurdish flags and placards highlighting al-Sharaa's Islamist past. Meanwhile, dozens of Syrians welcomed the president near the chancellery, waving Syria's new revolutionary flag.
premature normalization
German opposition politicians criticized the meeting, with Green party foreign affairs spokesperson Luise Amtsberg warning against "premature normalization" of al-Sharaa's government. Human rights groups have raised concerns about ongoing violence and instability in Syria since al-Sharaa took power.