Germany, France call for EU unity in migrant crisis
The leaders of Germany and France have called for unity across Europe to address a series of crises facing the continent.
In speeches before the European Parliament Wednesday in Strasbourg, both leaders said that more cooperation was needed to settle tens of thousands of migrants and refugees arriving in the 28-member bloc.
Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel stressed the importance of a common approach to refugee policy, protecting EU borders and deporting those who arrive, but do not meet the conditions for asylum. The bloc should not “succumb to the temptation of falling back into acting in nationalistic terms,” Merkel said.
France’s President Francois Hollande said Europe needs to strengthen its common policies, but should remain a diverse alliance of sovereign states. Hollande said that it would be a “tragic error” to call into question Europe’s open borders.
Source: VOANews.com
(Photo: bundeskanzlerin.de)
