Germany news: Merz and Syrian president talk refugee returns - dw.com

dw.com
March 31, 2026
3 min read

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Germany's Chancellor Merz discusses refugee returns with Syria's president.

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Friedrich Merz, Germany's chancellor, held talks with Syria's president regarding the return of Syrian refugees to their home country. Germany hosts one of Europe's largest Syrian refugee populations, a legacy of the civil war that displaced millions since 2011. The conversation signals Germany's interest in facilitating refugee repatriation as part of broader efforts to manage migration pressures and domestic political concerns. Merz has positioned refugee policy as a key priority for his government, reflecting rising public concern over immigration across Germany. Any large-scale return program would require coordination with international partners and assessments of Syria's security and stability conditions.

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