Germany: Turkey's role key to solving migrant crisis

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Turkey plays a key role in solving the migrant crisis and that Europe needed to offer better support to help Turkey deal with the influx of refugees.

Migrants arrive at the Hungarian border fence between Serbia and Hungary near Roszke, southern Hungary Source: AAP

"Without a doubt Turkey plays a key role in this situation," Merkel said in a speech to the Bundestag lower house of parliament on Thursday ahead of an EU summit in Brussels later.

"Most war refugees that come to Europe travel via Turkey. We won't be able to order and stem the refugee movement without working together with Turkey," she added.

Merkel said this included giving Turkey more support in caring for the refugees and providing humanitarian aid, as well as helping to secure borders and combat criminal smuggling rings.