Several EU member states have suspended asylum claims from Syrians following the collapse of the Assad regime. But what next?
Euronews spoke with a Syrian refugee in Berlin, Amnesty International in Rome and the NGO Relive for Syrian Refugees in Paris.
Fadi Zaim loves Berlin and loves Germany. The co-owner of the Jasmin catering company based in Germany’s capital arrived as a Syrian refugee in Germany in 2013. Originally born in Damascus, Fadi feels at home in Berlin and has even catered for former German Chancellor Angela Merkel. He has built a successful business over the past 12 years, and despite the fall of the Assad-regime back in Syria he wouldn’t go back, he tells Euronews as he stirs Tahini into chickpeas, to make his “best in Berlin” hummus.
“I love Berlin. I love Germany because, truly, we had many great people with big hearts who opened up the whole city. They supported us in learning the language and starting a business,” he says. He feels part of the community in Berlin who supported him.
Fadi is a success story. His family moved from the Syrian capital after bombs didn’t cease to drop. His family was granted a visa thanks to a special program between the German government and the UN, where 500 families were invited.
When he first came to Berlin, he was enrolled in a school, but after he repeatedly told his teacher how special Syrian food is, he was invited to cook for 50 people. Since he didn’t have the experience of cooking for so many, he asked his mother, who’s hobby had been cooking for large groups of people as a volunteer, back in Damascus.
The guests were pleased with their meal, and a second request for catering came in. And that is how Fadi accidentally started his catering company with his mother in Berlin.
“Germany has done many great things, at least from my own experience and from what I see in terms of support for non-profit organisations. I’ve worked with many accelerators that support small businesses and help people access government funding and learn the German language. They provide support for apprenticeships – all the things that the job centre offers. They provide guidance, but there just needs to be a push, a little pressure from the government on companies and the private sector,” he says.
But early in December, after Assad fled to Russia as oppositions forces took control of Damascus, Germany decided to pause asylum applications from Syrians. As many as 47,000 applicants are thought to be affected by the decision.
However, Fadi says it’s not safe to return to Syria.
“Assad was in power in Syria for 50 years, and now he is gone. But the challenge right now is for the government to identify and clean out the remnants of Assad’s old regime, because it persists. The asylum process is ongoing, but it is still not safe to return just because the government is gone, Assad is gone,” he says.
The systems that were in place under Assad are still there, and it will take a while for changes to be implemented, he argues.
Fadi is positive about Germany’s integration processes, after all, he owes his successful business to it, and doesn’t think it should come to an end because Assad is not in power anymore.
Don’t stop integration programmes, but add reintegration ones for those who should return
“Many people have integrated into Germany, from Syria and other countries, but there are also those who have not integrated properly. I believe that there should be more engagement from the authorities here to offer a strong integration program for refugees, so they can integrate into the job market more quickly,” Fadi adds.
“However, some people are not doing anything at all, and there needs to be a clear program to reintegrate them to their homes. But not for everyone – and the process [of integrattion] should not be stopped,” he says.
Over the weekend, Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck said Syrians who do not work, should return to Syria.
“I know many people who want to enter the job market, but they always face challenges with implementation. Many people work in the medical field, in hospitals, delivery services, or the restaurant industry. But still, there are people who, for example, are working in IT or are still looking for work. They constantly face the challenge of finding secure employment from the company’s side. This is where the city can provide support because they need skilled workers. But this requires a trial period,” Fadi says.
The successful caterer suggests a trial period, pointing at Germany’s labour shortage, where as many as 700,000 positions are open at the moment, according to Germany’s Federal Employment Agency.
“There also needs to be government support to ensure people can enter the job market,” he says.
All in order and where it should be in Syria?
In Italy, despite processing fewer Syrian asylum requests than any other EU member state, the government decided to pause applications. Human Rights organisations have condemned the move.
Riccardo Noury, spokesperson for Amnesty International Italy, told Euronews that Italy was the first EU country to re-open its embassy in Damascus signalling that the situation in the country is stable.
“But it’s not the case and that’s why the decision to freeze asylum requests for an unlimited time is simply reckless. And it’s in contrast with a EU directive dating back to 2013 and with a decree approved in Italy in 2008,” he said.
France also joined Belgium, Austria, Greece and Sweden in announcing a temporary freeze on Syrian asylum claims. As the country faces an uncertain future, organisations are requesting France put exceptional measures in place.
Secretary General of the NGO Relief for Syrian Refugees Frederic Anquetil, urges the French government to allow the return of refugees without them losing their status.
“Exceptional legal provisions exist to allow the return of refugees protected by international law, without them losing their refugee status. So we’re asking the French government to implement this mechanism so that all the Syrian people planting seeds of freedom and democracy, who took asylum in France, can return to their country and sow these ideas,” he told Euronews.
He also underlined that the caretaking government in Syria is still unknown, and suggested governments should wait with decisions.
“Today, it may be safe for some people, but in three months, we don’t know what will happen. So, we repeat: vigilance and caution. We’ll judge by the actions of the Syrian authorities, by the first decrees and laws that are going to be instituted. We have to be cautious, that refugees who have been granted international protection must retain their status for a year, two years, maybe even three years, until the results of the elections scheduled four years from now,” he says.
