Europe can’t take any more refugees — French Prime Minister

She countered politicians in some countries who have warned that the refugee crisis has exposed problems in Europe’s Schengen passport-free area, saying that states must develop it further by agreeing on migrant quotas. While he later claimed there was an error in the translation, and that he meant to say that Europe could no longer take in “so many refugees”, the point the French prime minister was trying to make was not lost to those who have likened Europe’s current difficulties to the massive refugee crisis that engulfed the continent during World War II.

“Otherwise Europe will call into question its ability to control its borders effectively”.

“The strongest response to terrorists is to carry on living our lives and our values as we have until now – self-confident and free, considerate and engaged”, Merkel told the politicians.

Before the Paris terror attacks, Valls had pushed for a Europe-wide strategy for dealing with migration and refugees.

De Maiziere said his idea would have to be combined with better protection of the European Union’s external borders, and could help overcome resistance from some EU member states to the redistribution of refugees across the bloc.

Pressure is also mounting on Germany to stop the flow of refugees into the European Union, as several French political parties have accused German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s refugee policy of opening the European Union up to many dangers.

While avoiding criticism of Berlin over Germany’s move in September to open borders and let in thousands of refugees stranded in Hungary, Valls still emphasized “it was not France that said: Come!”

French Economy Minister Emmanuel Macron and his German counterpart, Sigmar Gabriel, have proposed setting up a 10 billion euro ($10.7 billion) fund to pay for tighter security, external border controls and caring for refugees.

The November 13 attacks in Paris which killed 130 people only added renewed vigor to the demands. “Truly needy cases – from Syria, from Iraq – will be jointly sought out”.

She also reiterated her stance that Europe must take on the crisis in a peaceful manner by giving refugees salvation away from their war-stricken homelands.

Mr Valls stated that France will not accept more than 30,000 asylum seekers over the next two years.