Damascus hosts the interior ministers of Germany and Austria to discuss security and refugee issues.

In a pivotal step towards enhancing security cooperation between Syria and Europe, the Syrian Minister of Interior, Anas Khatib, received a joint delegation from Germany and Austria in Damascus, led by Mrs. Nancy Vizer, the German Minister of Interior, and Mr. Gerhard Karner, the Austrian Minister of Interior. The meeting, held on Sunday, April 27, 2025, was a focal point for discussions covering highly important security and humanitarian issues, including the Syrian refugee file and enhancing cooperation to combat security threats. One of the key points addressed during the meeting was the issue of "deportation of criminals" from European countries to Syria, where the German and Austrian ministers emphasized the necessity of expediting the deportation process of individuals posing security threats. Vizer stressed that the top priority is to ensure the deportation of these individuals as quickly as possible, mentioning that her government has tightened laws in this context. The Austrian Minister of Interior, Karner, the first Austrian minister to visit Damascus in 15 years, confirmed that the meetings also addressed ways to support education in Syria after years of conflict, in addition to combating terrorism and the "ISIS" organization. He explained that the executive steps include training Syrian security forces, opening technical discussions on the deportation of criminals, and enhancing the voluntary return of Syrians. On the other hand, Germany adopted a more cautious policy after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's regime, expressing its desire to maintain refugees who have integrated well into German society, while Austria aims to expedite the return of Syrians to their homeland, especially those with criminal records. This visit comes at a sensitive time, as European governments are reconsidering immigration policies amid growing concerns about security threats, while Syria is working on rebuilding and enhancing its internal stability.