Europe's survival depends on an environment of unity

French president François Hollande told EU leaders at a European Parliament meeting in Strasbourg on Wednesday that they risked the "end of Europe" if member states failed to unite in tackling the refugee, euro currency and other crises.

"We need not less Europe but more Europe. Europe must affirm itself otherwise we will see the end of Europe, our demise," Hollande said. 

He was succeeded by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who supported him in urging fellow EU leaders to unite to resolve the on-going refugee crisis.

Merkel warned leaders of the dangers of succumbing to nationalism.

"In the refugee crisis we must not succumb to the temptation of falling back into acting in nationalistic terms ... national solo efforts are no solution to the refugee crisis."

Merkel went on to call existing EU rules on asylum "obsolete", as they place a burden on EU states where people arrive first to process claims for refugee status.

Holland also said that Europe was slow in recognising the unfolding crisis.

"I recognise it willingly, Europe was slow to understand that the tragedies in the Middle East or in Africa could not be without consequences for it. "