According to RT, this statement was made in the context of the German government implementing a series of measures to limit the flow of refugees.
Speaking at the Southwest Press Forum held in Neu-Ulm last week, Angela Merkel emphasized: I do not believe that we can completely address illegal immigration at the German-Austinian or German- Polish border. I always support European solutions.
Prime Minister Friedrich Merz's government has issued a new policy this month, prohibiting the submission of applications for asylum at all German border gates. However, there are still exceptions for children, pregnant women and vulnerable groups. Home Secretary Alexander Dobrindt was the one who directly announced the regulations, marking a clear shift from Merkel's open-minded policy in 2015.
According to Ms. Merkel, this move seriously threatens the right to freedom of movement in the EU as well as the integrity of the European Union - an area that allows visa-free travel between most European countries. Without EU-level solutions, Europe could be destroyed, she warned.
Merkel's 2015 opening policy was met with backlash, with more than 1 million refugees allowed into Germany during the peak of the 2015-16 migration crisis. Many political opponents have called the decision a disaster.
Germany is still a top destination for EU refugees. In 2023, the country received more than 237,000 applications for asylum, accounting for about a quarter of the total number of applications in the bloc, according to EU statistics.
Meanwhile, German police said the implementation of the new border regulations could only last for a few more weeks as the pressure on the team on duty at the border gates increased. The government has increased 3,000 police officers, bringing the total number of forces to 14,000 people at key checkpoints.
