German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has called on 80% of Syrian immigrants to return home over the next three years, in a meeting with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Berlin.

Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Monday that he and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa agreed the vast majority of Syrian immigrants living in Germany should return to their homeland over the next three years. Al-Sharaa met Merz in Berlin – making his first presidential visit to Germany, which is home to the largest Syrian diaspora in Europe.