George and Amal Clooney meet Angela Merkel about refugees

Actor George Clooney and his lawyer wife Amal have had a private meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel to discuss the crisis in Syria and Europe’s efforts to help refugees.

The actor, who is currently attending the Berlin Film Festival to showcase his new movie Hail, Caesar!, was accompanied to the 40-minute meeting on Friday by David Miliband, the former British foreign secretary who now heads the International Rescue Committee.

Miliband said afterward that they had discussed what countries around the world can do to solve “what is a global problem, not just a Syrian problem or a German issue.”

He praised Merkel for “showing very strong leadership and example not just to Europe but globally” during the refugee crisis.

The Clooneys planned to visit a Berlin refugee shelter later on Friday.