Although more than €3 million was allocated for voluntary returns, only 289 Syrians have been returned to their homeland under state-specific programs.
The respondents cited bureaucratic barriers, high taxes, and disillusionment with Germany’s political climate as key reasons for their doubts about staying.
The German Ministry of the Interior said the number of voluntary returnees remains low, which is unsurprising given the generous benefits refugees receive from the federal government.
Legal bottlenecks allow migrants to apply for asylum in multiple member states, but the Commission promises that the problem will be addressed in the upcoming Immigration and Asylum Pact.
