In the long term, Germany "will only do well if Europe does well," declared Chancellor Angela Merkel. In her government statement in the German Bundestag on Wednesday she once again called for a common European approach to address the refugee crisis. The aim must be to reduce the number of asylum-seekers entering the EU, to ensure that the burden is fairly shared, and to end illegal migration across the Aegean, she said. Turkey has a pivotal role to play.

The European Council meeting in March is traditionally the meeting that focuses on the economic situation and the European Semester. Discussions tomorrow, however, will be dominated by refugee policy and further cooperation with Turkey, reported the Chancellor.

A long-term solution must be found

Angela Merkel expressed her conviction that a "viable, long-term, pan-European solution" can be achieved at the meeting in Brussels. The summit can "be a crucial milestone" in efforts to resolve the refugee problem in Europe. "We need a Europe that addresses common challenges with European solidarity and common action," continued the Chancellor.

The Chancellor added that she also considers it important that a rich continent like Europe must be in a position to cope with the greatest challenge of recent decades. Once again she made it very clear that what is now needed is a concerted effort to address the root causes of the refugee crisis. People must be given genuine prospects of a good life in their home countries. Europe must help those who really "need our protection".

Common European approach needed

Angela Merkel again pointed to the need for Europe to take a common approach to reducing the influx of asylum-seekers. This is essential because Germany is one of the countries that benefit most from the freedom of movement within Europe. Only an overall European solution can prevent a shift in the routes taken by refugees, as borders inside the EU are closed.

Criminal traffickers would be the only ones to benefit from new, complicated and hazardous routes. "Refugees will pay the highest price, often with their lives. But we Germans and Europeans would also pay a high price, because it would then become apparent that all the steps we have taken to date were not solutions but shams that addressed only the symptoms and ignored the root causes of the crisis. The disillusionment of the people would then be many times greater than the concerns of some today."

It is also important that no member state should be left alone with the problem. This is particularly true of Greece.

Assistance for refugees at the Greek-Macedonian border

With a view to the situation of refugees in Idomeni the Chancellor pointed to the support provided by the German government for Greece. And Greece too can now point to initial achievements. Hotspots have begun operations ensuring that all refugees are registered on arrival. "We have made significant progress on registering new arrivals and entering them in the EURODAC database. Progress has also been made on the provision of refugee accommodation; previously there had been far too many delays."

Greece intends to work with the other 27 EU member states and the UN refugee agency UNHCR to find an acceptable humanitarian solution to the crisis, said Angela Merkel.

Putting an end to illegal immigration via Turkey

The Chancellor defended the planned close cooperation with Turkey, which has declared itself willing to take back all refugees arriving illegally in Greece. In return, the European Union is to admit one Syrian through legal channels for every illegal migrant returned to Turkey. This could destroy the business model of the traffickers, Angela Merkel continued.

The return of all new irregular migrants and asylum-seekers must comply in full with European and international law, she said. Provisions regarding the protection of refugees and their rights must be respected. Today, the European Commission published six principles that are to be taken as the basis for further negotiations with Turkey in the refugee crisis, pointed out the Chancellor.

Sharing the burden fairly with Turkey

Cooperation with Turkey is already bearing the first fruits. The Chancellor pointed to the NATO operation in the Aegean, which is now gradually getting off the ground. Turkey has an interest in a sustainable solution too. As the Chancellor said, the "burdens must be shared fairly". She can well understand Turkey’s request for more financial assistance.

"What Turkey has done for well over 2 million refugees, to be precise around 2.7 million refugees, for years already cannot be praised highly enough. It is no credit to Europe that a union with 28 member states has so far been so unwilling to share the burden."

The three billion euros already pledged for refugee projects was only a first step. "The first 95 million euros have already been disbursed. They are helping 100,000 refugee children to attend school, with lessons in Arabic, as well as supplying 700,000 Syrians with food." It is now important to ensure that these funds are genuinely used in sound projects, to provide accommodation, schools and medical care.

Commenting on the closer cooperation with Turkey and its desire to accede rapidly to the European Union, Angela Merkel said that Germany will be advocating open-ended accession negotiations. Accession is not on the agenda.

Preserving the Schengen Area, reforming the Dublin Regulations

"In the long term, a common European solution will also mean reforming the Dublin system." The Chancellor pointed out that the European Commission is soon to present its proposals. "We must find a way to bring the Dublin system into line with the changed conditions and to make it fit for the future. I tell you quite plainly that we will only be able to preserve Schengen in the long term with a reform of the Dublin Regulations, because a common European solution will also involve a gradual return to open internal borders, which are such a benefit to us within the Schengen Area."