The message that we can't take in everybody is imperative. At the same time, the decision as to who has a right to asylum needs to be made in Brussels.

There are differences of opinion, especially when it comes to economic and financial policy. But when it comes to foreign and especially immigration policy, we are in agreement. No other countries in Europe are closer to each other in this regard than Italy and Germany.

We [European countries] probably need to move forward together, each at their own speed. The faster ones, that could be the countries in the euro zone. The others would be those who are interested in the continued development of the common market, but reject the idea of an ever stronger political integration.

As long as a certain problem primarily affects a different country, in this case Italy, one might not put it at the very top of one's list of priorities.