French PM says Europe can't take in more refugees

A stranded Iranian migrant teenager sits on rail trucks at the border between Greece and Macedonia in front of Macedonian riot police guarding the borderline near the Greek village of Idomeni, November 23, 2015. [Photo/Agencies]

Valls avoided criticising Merkel directly for having suspended European asylum rules to allow in Syrian refugees stranded in Hungary. "Germany has made an honourable choice there," he said.

But he signalled that Paris was taken by surprise by Merkel's decision: "It was not France that said: Come!"

French Economy Minister Emmanuel Macron and his German counterpart, Sigmar Gabriel, have proposed setting up a 10 billion euro ($10.7 billion) fund to pay for tighter security, external border controls and caring for refugees.

The United Nations on Tuesday condemned new restrictions on refugees that have left around 1,000 migrants stuck at the main border crossing into Macedonia from Greece.