Screengrab of Friedrich Merz giving a speech to the CDU conference.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said most Syrians living in Germany should return to their home country.
“In the next three years, around 80 percent of the Syrians currently living in Germany should return to their home country,” Merz said during a joint press conference with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Berlin.
Merz said some groups, such as doctors and nurses, could be granted the right to remain.
However, he made clear the broader aim is a large-scale return of Syrians who arrived in 2015 and 2016 at the height of the country’s civil war.
After Chancellor Angela Merkel opened the country’s doors to illegal migrants, Germany became home to around 1.23 million people of Syrian origin.
“The civil war is over, and there is now, in principle, a perspective for returning to Syria and we want to make that possible together,” Merz said.
Germany’s Chancellor expects 80% of Syrians in Germany to return to Syria within three years. That’s what the Syrian president would like too, according to Merz. He also stressed that “those who live here and want to stay and are well integrated” can remain in Germany. pic.twitter.com/FrB2KNqZ5Z
— DW Politics (@dw_politics) March 30, 2026
The German government is seeking cooperation from Damascus to facilitate returns, particularly for those without a legal right to stay.
Officials say the plan is intended to reduce long-term migration pressures and support reconstruction efforts in Syria after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
Despite being a fervent globalist and supporter of the liberal world order, Merz made restricting migration a central issue during his 2025 campaign.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz Slams Trump, Says He ‘Squandered’ America’s Global Leadership (VIDEO)
Since taking office, he has pushed for tighter controls and a shift toward repatriation policies.
German Chancellor Merz on Syria:
We still have around one million Syrian refugees in Germany, many of whom are waiting to be able to return to their homeland. If the conditions are met, they will return.
We therefore have our own interest in this country coming to rest, in… pic.twitter.com/v4v48i810T
— Clash Report (@clashreport) January 19, 2026
A former member of al-Qaeda, Al-Sharaa, previously known under the pseudonym Abu Mohammad al-Julani, was once the subject of a $10 million U.S. bounty, which was lifted in December 2024.
The visit has proven controversial, with around 120 protesters gathered outside the chancellery during the visit.
#Syrians in #Germany are preparing to welcome their president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, in #Berlin now. pic.twitter.com/vBTwW0Ihxx
— Qusay Noor (@QUSAY_NOOR_) March 29, 2026
At the same time, supporters of al-Sharaa gathered in Berlin. Videos on social media showed groups waving Syrian flags and chanting as he appeared publicly.
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