EU files show focus on accelerating returns, deportations to Syria
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Newly disclosed European Union documents show that Brussels is prioritizing increased returns and potential deportations of Syrians as it expands cooperation with Syria’s transitional authorities on migration and border management, Statewatch reported on Monday.
Two heavily redacted EU “action files” on Syria, dated May 22 and June 22, 2026, outline areas in which EU member states seek to coordinate migration-related policies and spending.
The files are monitored by the Operational Coordination Mechanism on the External Dimension of Migration (MOCADEM), a Council of the EU mechanism that coordinates member states’ actions on migration beyond the bloc’s borders.
According to documents obtained by Statewatch, the documents place particular emphasis on creating conditions for Syrian refugees to return and on increasing cooperation with Syrian authorities on what the files describe as different forms of returns.
The EU has allocated €139 million under a special support measure for Syria, which includes efforts aimed at creating conditions for the “safe, voluntary, dignified and sustainable return” of Syrian refugees through support for stability, governance, infrastructure and economic recovery.
Separate EU-funded programs also support returns from neighboring countries. A €95 million program running through 2028 is intended to facilitate voluntary returns of Syrians from Turkey, while additional funding has been allocated for similar initiatives in Lebanon and Jordan.
The documents also point to broader future cooperation on migration governance. A €14 million Syria Technical Assistance Hub is expected to support governance and institutional programs involving several European development agencies.
The action file refers to possible technical exchanges with Syria’s transitional authorities on border management, surveillance capabilities, combating human smuggling and trafficking, and improving communication on irregular migration routes.
Statewatch said the documents suggest the EU may seek to extend its influence over Syria’s migration and border policies as cooperation with Damascus develops.
The June document also lists 26 individual EU member-state programs in Syria and neighboring countries. Fourteen with disclosed budgets total more than €228 million, according to Statewatch.