GETTY Thomas de Maiziere has threatened sanctions against other EU states

FREE now and never miss the top politics stories again. SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Sign up fornow and never miss the top politics stories again. We will use your email address only for sending you newsletters. Please see our Privacy Notice for details of your data protection rights.

Germany's interior minister Thomas de Maiziere vowed revenge on fellow states over their part in the refugee chaos, accusing the rest of Europe of trying to "shift the collective problem onto our back". The extreme outburst highlighted the huge rifts opening up between European countries as the Brussels project lurches closer to collapse under the pressure of unprecedented migration.

Europe has been paralysed by indecision and bitter infighting over who should take the blame for the current refugee crisis, which has seen millions of people from Asia, the Middle East and North Africa arrive in the continent. And yesterday Germany - which has descended into chaos after taking in by far the most migrants - finally snapped and issued an extraordinary rebuke to fellow member states.

GETTY Mr de Maiziere is Angela Merkel's right-hand man

GETTY His outburst came after Austria put a cap on migration

In a furious outburst Mr de Maiziere said: "We will continue to fight for a European way out of the refugee crisis as long as it also promises to be successful in diminishing the number of refugees. "However, should some countries try to unilaterally shift the collective problem onto the back of Germany, it would be unacceptable and would not be without consequences from our side in the long term." His comments could be construed as a thinly-veiled swipe at neighbours Austria, which has introduced a highly controversial cap on the number of asylum seekers it will accept each day. Most migrants arriving in Europe via Greece or Italy immediately travel north, heading towards Germany, Austria, Sweden and Britain.

GETTY Almost 1.5 million migrants have travelled to Germany over the last year

GETTY The outburst is the latest fission to erupt within the EU

Should some countries try to unilaterally shift the collective problem onto the back of Germany, it would be unacceptable German interior minister Thomas de Maiziere

If Austria starts refusing to take in migrants that could have a huge knock-on effect on Germany, adding vastly to the almost 1.5 million refugees the country has already taken in over the last year. Addressing the Bundestag yesterday, Mr de Maiziere insisted his government will also "deal more harshly" with migrants who claim to be refugees fleeing war, but later turn out to have moved for jobs and benefits. He also insisted authorities will clamp down on migrants who try to prolong their stay in Germany on false pretences, including those who launch spurious legal claims despite being found to have travelled their illegally. Mrs Merkel has faced a furious backlash against her leadership in recent months as communities across Germany struggle to cope with the vast influx of newcomers.

Migrants clash with police across Europe Wed, February 15, 2017 Migrants clash with each other in over crowded camps across Europe. Play slideshow EPA 1 of 107 Moroccan Police look at immigrants trying to jump the six-meter-high fence in Ceuta, Spanish enclave on the north of Africa, 09 December 2016.

Public opinion has turned sharply against mass migration in light of the Cologne sex attacks when 1,000 men, most of whom were refugees, went on the rampage raping and robbing women out celebrating New Year's Eve. Mr de Maiziere insisted it was in German interests to stick to the Schengen free movement zone for as long as possible, even though Mrs Merkel has indicated she may look to reintroduce some border controls. That stance was supported by a survey published on Friday which showed that 58 percent of Germans want border controls to be reintroduced to keep out migrants, even if that causes inconvenience when travelling or transporting freight around Europe.