Overview
- The interior ministry-linked figures show a slight 3.3% decline from September’s 9,126 first‑time applications, continuing a generally downward trend with month‑to‑month volatility.
- Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt says the government’s migration turnaround is reducing pull factors and presents the drop as evidence the strategy is working.
- The government signals it will step up returns, with Dobrindt indicating future removals could include rejected young Syrian men in addition to criminals and dangerous individuals.
- The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees has resumed processing applications from a defined subgroup of Syrians—young, able‑bodied, lone men—since late September.
- CSU figures urge return arrangements with Syria and the interior ministry says it is working on an agreement and discussing return hubs with EU counterparts, while Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul warns that only very limited returns are currently possible given conditions in Syria.