Germany and Austria push voluntary return of Syrian asylum seekers

Former German ambassador to Syria Andreas Reinicke, now head of the German Orient Institute, said many Syrians living in Germany are willing to return home if economic conditions improve. He suggested that a German‑Syrian private initiative could open a German school in Damascus by spring 2027, which he believes would encourage voluntary repatriation.

German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt and Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner announced plans to strengthen voluntary return programmes for Syrian asylum seekers. The proposals include time‑limited financial incentives and the creation of “Return Hubs” outside the EU. They noted that deportations to Syria have resumed after a pause, citing the first recent transfer of a convicted Syrian on 23 December 2025 and Austria’s first deportation in 15 years earlier in July. The ministers aim to make voluntary return a more prominent pillar alongside forced returns and integration pathways, hoping to reduce irregular migration and provide clearer, coordinated assistance for those choosing to go back.