German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said that 80% of the more than 900,000 Syrian nationals in Germany should return to their home country in the next three years.
At a press conference with Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Berlin on Monday, Merz said the leaders agreed that over the "longer term of the next three years," around "80% of the Syrians currently in Germany should return to their homeland."
"That was also the wish of President Sharaa," Merz said, adding that "those Syrians who wish to remain in Germany and are well integrated will be able to stay in Germany."
Germany was one of the main destinations for Syrian refugees fleeing the devastating civil war, with around 1 million arriving in the country during dictator Bashar al-Assad's time in power.
Calls for Syrian nationals to leave Germany have risen in conservative and far-right circles following al-Assad's ousting in late 2024 by an Islamist coalition led by al-Sharaa.
The Force of Care: Living with Goal- There’s ‘super flu,’ COVID, RSV. Is it going around in SoCal?
- Birds Will Flock To Your Birdbath When You Plant These Two Flowers Around It
- Map shows more than 1,900 measles cases across U.S.
- EU top diplomat Kallas arrives in Kiev to commemorate Bucha massacre
- Volcanic eruption led to the Black Death, new research suggests
- Vote in favor of your #1 Kind of Cap
- The German series proving subtitles can be sexy — and wildly addictive
- 5 Wellbeing Applications Assist You With remaining Fit
