EU member states should take concrete action to face up to the refugee crisis on Europe’s doorstep, MEP Roberta Metsola said in an interview.

"States seem to easily agree on how many plastic bags we can throw away or how many fish can be caught from our seas, but when bodies of children are washing up on our shores and leaders still cannot agree on how to deal with refugees humanely then it seems to me that everything else we do seems to be of little use.”

Dr Metsola, who is the European Parliament rapporteur on migration, was featured in a front-cover interview with influential Brussels-based The Parliament Magazine. She said that any approach to migration must be considered holistically.

“We need to find the right balance between offering protection to those in need, protecting our borders and safely returning those who are not eligible for protection. Any approach has to look at every aspect, from what the EU can do to help those countries of origin to get back on their feet, to going after the trafficking networks, to looking at where EU funding is really going to finding systems that help people before they are forced onto unseaworthy boats.”

Dr Metsola said that this is a global crisis that requires a worldwide response, but called on Europe to be the “example to the world”.