Germany should lead the way on refugee issue: Merkel

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Wednesday that Germany should lead the way on the refugee issue to help find common European solutions to the current refugee crisis.

Speaking to lawmakers during a parliament general debate, Merkel said the EU must unite to deal with the influx of refugees, stressing that it was not just a "challenge at national level, but for the EU as a whole."

The chancellor pointed out that Germany's "strength and power" in cooperation with partners had often worked in the past and were once again key to solving the current crisis. "If we show courage and lead the way, a common European approach is more likely."

Merkel reiterated her call for a mandatory distribution of refugees within the EU on the basis of fair criteria as part of a common European response to the crisis.

She also emphasized the importance of improving cooperation with Turkey and African countries to coordinate efforts on the refugee issue.

Germany is expecting an unprecedented influx of up to 800,000 refugees and asylum seekers this year. Speaking of the integration of the new arrivals, Merkel said it was a central challenge and that Germany should learn from its experience in the 1960s when tens of thousands of so-called guest workers came to Germany to find work.

"We must learn from the mistakes of the 1960s and promote the integration quickly. If we do it well, there will be more opportunities than risks," she noted.

In addition, the chancellor made it clear that violence against refugees would not be tolerated in Germany. "We will take action against it with the full force of law," she stressed. Endit