German authorities intend to expand a program to provide financial support to Syrian refugees who want to voluntarily return to their homeland, German Interior Ministry spokesman Lars Harmsen told reporters at a briefing.
"Of course, there are already people who want to return to Syria. We support that", he said. "In the future, we want to expand the program for those who want to leave voluntarily", the Interior Ministry spokesman added. At the same time, he stressed that it is still difficult to predict the development of the situation in Syria, so it is too early to talk about a large-scale return of Syrians.
Harmsen explained that the German authorities will refund road fees in the amount of EUR 200 per person over 18 years of age, EUR 100 for those under 18 years of age, and financial assistance from the German state will be in the amount of EUR 1,000 per person over 18 years of age and EUR 500 - under 18 years of age. “For a family, the maximum is EUR 4,000“, specified a representative of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
After the new rulers came to power in Damascus, discussions flared up in Germany about the need to return Syrian refugees to their homeland.