Swedish Migration Agency Plans Workshops in Damascus to Facilitate Return of Syrians

The Swedish Migration Agency is planning to launch a training initiative in Syria aimed at facilitating the return of Syrians currently residing in Sweden. The project will organize workshops in Damascus targeting employees from government and private institutions, as well as civil society organizations.

The initiative includes conducting preliminary assessments in Sweden before carrying out on-site visits to Damascus. Migration Agency experts will oversee the workshops, ensuring appropriate security and logistical arrangements are in place.

The Swedish Migration Agency confirmed that participants in the workshops will be selected based on the results of the initial assessments. Attendees will include representatives from the government, the private sector, and civil society.

The project is estimated to cost 2.5 million Swedish kronor. However, funding has not yet been secured, prompting the agency to refrain from commenting on specific program details.

The Swedish government seeks to promote the return of refugees to Syria, whether voluntarily or through the enforcement of deportation orders against certain individuals. Recently, the Minister for Trade and Development Cooperation and the Minister of State visited Damascus to explore ways of collaborating on return and reconstruction efforts.

The government also indicated that it may fund Syrian government institutions to strengthen administrative capacity and facilitate organized returns. The Migration Agency considers Syria a priority country due to the large Syrian community in Sweden and the number of individuals with pending deportation orders.

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