Europe is struggling to address the issue of repatriating foreign fighters from Syria - euronews

Monday, Jul 7, 2025

Syria’s reunification faces challenges managing ISIS fighters; repatriation is key, but EU reintegration efforts are weak despite some success abroad.

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[This is an automatically generated summary, for reference only]

A 2025 agreement between Damascus’ interim government and the Syrian Democratic Forces aims to reunify Syria, but significant issues remain, particularly concerning ISIS foreign fighters and their families held in northeastern Syria. While Turkey supports Damascus in managing these detention centers, experts suggest repatriation is the most realistic solution due to the lack of a functioning criminal justice system in Syria. European nations are hesitant to take responsibility for their citizens, despite some progress by countries like Iraq. At the EU level, while various counter-terrorism strategies exist, concrete coordination on returning and reintegrating foreign fighters appears lacking. Experts question the effectiveness of current EU models for reintegration, noting that efforts are shifting towards preventing violent behavior rather than deradicalization. Conversely, Kosovo is highlighted as a successful model for repatriating Syrian women and minors by providing comprehensive social, economic, and psychological support.


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