The current refugee policy was the main focus of talks between Chancellor Angela Merkel and Sweden’s Prime Minister Stefan Löfven. They discussed the challenges facing Germany and Sweden, and those at European level. The Chancellor pointed out that a common European asylum system should not only exist on paper, but that it should be a reality, because "Dublin III has been overtaken by events and is no longer appropriate for the challenges we are now having to master," said Angela Merkel.

Germany and Sweden are together offering protection to about 60 per cent of all Syrian refugees in the EU.

Letting European values guide our actions

A new asylum policy must be discussed, along with mandatory quotas, said Angela Merkel. A Europe-wide quota system that would take account of the national economic performance and unemployment levels in each member state should help distribute arriving war refugees fairly among all EU member states. Safe countries of origin in the western Balkans should also be designated, to avoid creating any unintended incentives for economic migrants.

The two leaders called on all EU member states to act in line with the spirit of European solidarity, and to respect the provisions of the 1951 Refugee Convention. Angela Merkel is hoping for cooperation within and between states. "If 25 countries are to achieve a goal, we will have to convince everybody." The Chancellor is quietly confident that a common solution can be found that will decide on the future of Europe.