Dispute over Syrians: Will Syria soon be classified as a safe country of origin?

Dispute over Syrians: Will Syria soon be classified as a safe country of origin?

In Germany, the discussion about the status of Syrian refugees is simmering in light of dramatic new figures. The debate is heated because after the fall of the Assad regime, many Syrians continued to seek protection in Germany. A total of 47,000 asylum applications are on hold at the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF), reports Berlin newspaper. A highly explosive issue is whether Syria could soon be classified as a safe country of origin.

A look at the statistics reveals something astonishing: from January to November 2024, Syrian citizens submitted around 72,000 initial asylum applications. The majority of the Syrian population in Germany, which totals around 1.3 million people, is young - on average 26 years old and predominantly male. Most came between 2014 and 2016. Despite a fairly high proportion of Syrian immigrants, namely 214,000 with German passports, the current situation with regard to integration and job searches requires great action.

Labor market challenges for Syrian refugees

Although 863,000 Syrians are of working age between 15 and 64, only 42 percent have found jobs. This means that around 435,000 Syrians are unemployed. Some are still in training or have health restrictions, while others do not have a work permit. There is progress in terms of education: around 190,000 Syrians have a vocational qualification, including 106,000 an academic title. But 59 percent have not yet achieved such a qualification, which makes integration more difficult.

The question of the future of Syrian refugees remains exciting. Despite the existing hurdles on the job market, many Syrians score points with their youth and willingness to undergo training. The federal government faces challenges in working strategically to ensure that these people can be integrated into German society in the long term.

Explosive political discussions

The heated political debate continues: Given the possibility of classifying Syria as a safe country of origin, the impact on protection status is being discussed in particular. If the security risks in Syria are no longer an issue, the reason for protection could no longer apply for many, which would increase the possibility of deportation. Jens Spahn from the CDU is in favor of creating opportunities to return and even offering financial incentives for this - overall an explosive project within German politics.

The discussions about naturalization start at the same point. According to the current legal situation, even Syrians with subsidiary protection can acquire German citizenship after five years of legal residence if they meet integration criteria. But it remains to be seen whether and how the political decisions will affect this regulation and the life of the Syrian community in Germany. Also MSN notes similarly exciting details about the current situation of Syrians in Germany.