(VOVworld) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande have called for unity in Europe to tackle the current migrant crisis.

French President Francois Hollande (R) and German Chancellor Angela Merkel at a press news conference after a summit Ukraine crisis in Paris on October 2, 2015. (Photo: Reuters/Regis Duvignau)

In a joint address to the EU parliament in Strassburg, France on Wednesday, Merkel called the crisis “a test of historic proportions” which requires joint efforts by the entire Europe to handle.

Merkel said a free and united European Union remains a dream destination for many migrants from the Middle East and the point is what the EU should do to deal with the attraction.

French President Hollande underscored the need for the EU to move ahead with integration to settle the migrant crisis and others in the Europe, adding that without greater cooperation and solidarity, the current challenge will mark the end of this union.