Europe faces historic test to tackle refugee crisis: Merkel

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Wednesday that Europe is facing "a historic test" to tackle the refugee crisis and vowed to fight for a common approach at the upcoming EU summit to limit flows of refugees to Europe.

Addressing the German parliament, Merkel reiterated that she will make all efforts at the EU summit on Thursday and Friday to advance the cooperation with Turkey to seek a better protection of the EU's external border and less irregular migration.

"Is it worth it to go on this way? Or should Europe give up now and instead close the Greek-Macedonian-Bulgarian border?" asked Merkel, referring to alternative measures suggested by the Visegrad Group of Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

She stressed that Germany sees three points essential in coping with the crisis: to tackle the root causes of the crisis, to protect EU's external border and to achieve a better burden-sharing, and to regulate and control refugee influx.

"Our common goal is to reduce the number of refugees significantly and sustainably, and to continue to help people who need protection," Merkel said.

She also called the humanitarian situation in Syria "depressing" and reiterated her call for a no-fly zone to protect civilians.

"It would be helpful if there was an area in Syria where no warring parties launched air attacks," Merkel told parliament.

Merkel has been under huge pressure at home to reduce refugee inflows. She has also been increasingly isolated within the EU because many European partners believe that the refugee crisis has been worsened by Germany's policy to leave its door open for refugees. Endit