German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Tuesday called for a special EU refugee summit, urging unity after an angry reaction to a suggestion by one of her ministers that states that did not take in their share of asylum seekers could face financial penalties, Reuters reported.
The proposal was forcefully rejected by the Czech Republic and Slovakia, which are among eastern European states that have resisted European Union plans to share out refugees.
Merkel later took a more conciliatory tone, calling for Europe to come together on the refugee issue.
"I think we need to establish a European spirit again ... I don't think threats are the right way to achieve agreement," she told a news conference with Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann, whose country is also in the front line of the refugee crisis.
