The Dutch government announced its intention to significantly increase its contribution to Syria’s reconstruction efforts, while encouraging Syrian refugees to return to their country after years of war.
Dutch Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Asylum and Migration Bart van den Brink held a meeting in New York with Syria’s ambassador to the United Nations, Ibrahim Olabi, on the sidelines of the International Migration Review Forum.
The Dutch minister described the meeting as “unique,” stressing that this kind of meeting had not happened before in this form.
Representatives from the United States, Turkey, Jordan, and several European countries attended the meeting alongside Syria, where files related to return and reconstruction in Syria were discussed.
A Common Interest Between Europe and Syria
According to the Dutch minister, there is a mutual desire among European countries and the Syrian government to encourage Syrians to return to their country and participate in rebuilding it.
While the German government hopes for the return of around 80% of Syrian refugees, according to figures cited by Chancellor Friedrich Merz before he later walked them back, van den Brink refused to set a similar percentage for the Netherlands. He explained that the real goal is for Syrians to seriously consider returning and contributing to reconstruction, rather than limiting the debate to numbers.
According to the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, around 945 Syrians left the Netherlands and returned to their country last year, while the Dutch government provides those returnees with financial support of 5,000 euros for each adult and 2,500 euros for each minor child.
The total number of people of Syrian origin living in the Netherlands exceeds 150,000, many of whom entered as refugees over the past ten years, according to the newspaper.
The Dutch newspaper added that a large group of Syrians in the Netherlands are still waiting for decisions on their asylum applications.
In contrast, the minister noted that a large number of pending Syrian asylum applications are currently being rejected because of the noticeable improvement in conditions inside Syria, while acknowledging at the same time that the reconstruction process still faces major challenges.
European Program to Support Syrian Returns
Van den Brink called on the Netherlands and Europe to make a greater contribution to supporting stability inside Syria, noting that current European aid remains far below the support provided by the United States.
He also announced that a new European program will soon be launched to support the return of Syrians, explaining that the Dutch government is seeking to reassure refugees about their future in Syria.
The minister said, “Syrians must realize that they have a future in their country, that there are economic opportunities, and that land registries are functioning well, giving them confidence in the possibility of returning to their homes.”
He confirmed that communication with the Syrian authorities will continue in the coming period to follow up on these files.
Consultations to Support Syria’s Reconstruction
Dutch Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Asylum and Migration Bart van den Brink said during his participation in the Good Morning Netherlands program on NPO 1 radio that the Dutch government is holding several consultations and contacts to support Syria’s reconstruction and encourage Syrians to return, noting that the war there had effectively ended.
The minister explained that this development is also reflected in asylum decisions.
Van den Brink said Syria is taking an international stance that does not contribute to fueling conflicts in the Middle East.
He also noted that the international community is increasingly viewing the Syrian government as a “reliable partner” that seeks to contribute to rebuilding the country.
He added that the Syrian authorities are requesting international support, as well as contributions from Syrians who previously left the country, to take part in rebuilding their homeland during the coming phase.
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