Cyprus follows Germany’s lead on refugee returns to Syria

A recent Islamist terror attack in Solingen, which left three people dead, is prompting a reevaluation of Germany's migration policies ahead of upcoming national elections. The incident has sparked discussions about deportations and returns, even to unsafe countries like Syria and Afghanistan, potentially setting the stage for significant shifts across the European Union.

This shift aligns with Cyprus' stance on migration, as the country has been grappling with high refugee inflows and the threat of new waves from Syria via Lebanon. Cypriot officials have repeatedly urged the EU to reconsider the status of certain regions in Syria, arguing that some could be deemed safe for the return of refugees.

The leader of Germany’s opposition Christian Democrats, Friedrich Merz, has called for mass deportations to Syria and Afghanistan and an end to asylum applications from these countries. Under pressure from election campaigns, Chancellor Olaf Scholz has indicated a willingness to change European laws, proposing a "task force" of member states to address asylum regulations.

Meanwhile, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party is gaining traction in the eastern part of the country, with recent polls suggesting they could secure between 30% and 34% in the upcoming state elections in Saxony, Thuringia, and Brandenburg.

As the 2025 elections approach, a European source expressed concern that the evolving political landscape in Germany could lead to radical changes in EU migration policies, potentially influenced by domestic political maneuvering for votes.

Countries like France, Italy, Denmark, and the Netherlands are already advocating for stricter migration policies, and the developments in Germany could bolster their efforts. Cyprus, which has been advocating for a reassessment of Syria's status within the EU, is closely watching these shifts.

The Cypriot Interior Minister, Konstantinos Ioannou, has argued for reevaluating Syria’s current status and exploring the possibility of designating certain areas as safe, potentially enabling the return of Syrian refugees to those regions.

As European migration policies remain a contentious issue, the response to the Solingen attack may well set a precedent for a more stringent stance on asylum and deportations across the EU.

[Summary of Pavlos Xanthoulis' original story in Greek published in Kathimerini's Cyprus edition]