Merkel: Europe is vulnerable in the migration crisis.

(Baonghean.vn) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel affirmed on January 11 that Europe is "vulnerable" to the migration crisis because it has not yet brought the situation under control to the desired extent.

Chancellor Angela Merkel in a speech on January 8 in Mainz, Germany. Photo: Reuters.

Speaking at a business event in Mainz, near Frankfurt, Merkel said: “Now suddenly we are faced with the challenge of migrants pouring into Europe and we could be vulnerable, because we do not yet possess the order and control that we want to have.”

She also asserted that the euro "has a direct relationship" to freedom of movement within Europe, adding: "No one should act as if there could be a common currency but no easy movement across borders."

Chancellor Merkel argued that if countries tightened border controls, Europe's single market would be "profoundly affected"—meaning that Germany, the center of the European Union (EU) and the continent's largest economy, would have to fight to protect freedom of movement.

The EU is struggling to cope with the wave of migrants driven by war and poverty in the Middle East and Africa, most of whom arrive in Greece or Italy before heading to more prosperous countries in the North of the EU. Germany is the largest recipient of these migrants: in 2015 alone, more than 1 million arrived.

Several EU countries have reinstated border controls within the Schengen area, while also increasing efforts to share the burden of refugees with other members of the bloc.

Merkel emphasized that, in order to protect the Schengen area within the EU, it is necessary to strengthen security at the bloc's external borders.

Thu Giang

(According to Reuters)