EU Parliament head seeks 'holistic, sustainable' migration solution

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola has spoken out against hasty border closures in the fight against illegal migration in Europe, stating that such measures will not provide a "sustainable" solution to the problem.

Metsola made the remarks at the party conference of the German conservative Christian Social Union (CSU) in the Bavarian city of Augsburg on Friday.

She said that the Schengen Agreement allowing for frictionless travel in Europe is one of the greatest achievements of the European Union.

"It symbolizes exactly the spirit of unity that we have worked so hard for," she said.

Migration is not an issue that one country can solve alone, said Metsola: "The real solution is a European solution - a comprehensive, holistic and sustainable solution."

Metsola argued that borders must be protected while treating fairly those who have a claim to asylum. Any solution must also deal decisively with those who do not have a claim and must be safely and swiftly returned, she said.

The CSU plans to pass a key proposal on migration at the party conference on Saturday. Among other measures, a cap on asylum seekers in Germany is to be introduced and rejection at the borders will be decided if no claim for asylum in Germany can be established.