EU migration problems can only be solved collectively: Scholz

The European migration and refugee crisis can only be solved with a joint plan backed by all EU countries, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz emphasized after a meeting in Rome on Thursday with Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

"Those who want to overcome the challenges associated with refugee migration can only do so together in the European Union," Scholz said.

"All attempts to either leave the problems with someone else or to point the finger at others will fail," he added.

Meloni, from the far-right Fratelli d'Italia (Brothers of Italy) party, wants to prevent the many migrants arriving on Italy's shores via the Mediterranean from crossing from North Africa.

Her measures have repeatedly attracted harsh criticism, for example when Rome arrested volunteer sea rescuers on two German ships recently because they had not followed the new, strict rules of Meloni's government.

Rescuers complain about harassment and have protested against the measures, which in their view endangers human lives in the Mediterranean.