Syrian officials held separate talks with German and Belgian delegations Thursday on refugee returns, reintegration and development cooperation, Anadolu Agency reported.
Syrian Local Administration and Environment Minister Mohammed Anjarani met with a delegation from Belgian development agency Enabel, led by its regional director for the Middle East, North Africa and Eastern Neighborhood, Patrick Goudisart.
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The talks in Damascus focused on projects supporting the return and reintegration of refugees and internally displaced people, as well as mechanisms for climate finance.
The sides also discussed strengthening cooperation and developing partnerships in sustainable development, improving local services and addressing environmental challenges.
Enabel implements international cooperation and development programs in areas including education, health, employment, entrepreneurship and governance.
Separately, Syria’s Expatriates and Refugees Department held talks with a delegation from Germany’s Federal Interior Ministry on cooperation and coordination over refugee and return-related issues.
According to SANA, the discussions covered the development of communication channels and the exchange of information and expertise.
The Syrian and German sides stressed the importance of creating a “safe, dignified and stable environment” for Syrians returning to the country, allowing them to settle and reintegrate into their local communities.
They also discussed sharing expertise and drawing on international experience in managing refugee returns, integration and stabilization.
The two sides agreed to maintain communication and coordination through established channels and follow up on the issues discussed with the aim of turning the understandings into practical measures.
In January 2025, Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa said he was confident that 14 million Syrians living abroad would return within two years. He said at the time that around 15 million Syrians were outside the country, although the figure reflected his own estimate.
Syria’s new administration was formed after Bashar al-Assad fled to Russia in December 2024 following the collapse of his government. Al-Sharaa became head of the transitional administration in January 2025.
More recently, Syrian authorities have continued discussions with international organizations and European governments over conditions for voluntary and safe refugee returns, as well as early recovery and reconstruction projects.
