The federal government today rejected opposition demands for the drawing up a plan for the repatriation of Syrians living in Germany, citing the confusing situation in Syria.

“We have to wait and see how the situation in Syria develops. A return debate could cause uncertainty for refugees living in Germany, some of whom have been here for many years“, said the government representative Stephen Hebstreit and spoke of “understandable excitement in periods close to the election campaign”, referring to Christian Democratic Party (CDU). But we will have to see if the situation in Syria will stabilize”before we take the …fifth step before the firsto”, but also to discuss whether the Syrians who are entitled to protection in Germany should return to Syria, added Mr. Hebstreit.

A spokesman for the federal interior ministry also criticized as “not serious” the discussion of specific repatriation options in such an unclear and volatile situation. The government, he stressed, is closely monitoring developments in Syria, but the situation is simply too volatile to consider large-scale returns.

Earlier, the Minister of the Interior, Nancy Fesser, had also referred to the consequences that the possible departure of the refugees from Syria would have on the German labor market. “If all the Syrians in Germany were to leave now, entire sectors would disappear, e.g. in the health sector. It is important for us to give the Syrians who are here, who have jobs, who are integrated, who are not involved in crime, who have children in schools, the opportunity to stay” said Ms. Feser.