GETTY Angela Merkel says she does not have a plan B when it comes to the migrant crisis

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Mrs Merkel said she does not have a backup plan to the biggest migration crisis facing the continent since the Second World War. But the embattled German Chancellor – who has faced enormous criticism from the German public and from her own party – said the answer is not simply to close European borders.

GETTY Merkel said she did not need a backup plan for the growing problems

Right-wing protests have frequently occurred since the Cologne New Year’s Eve attacks in which scores of women were allegedly robbed and sexually abused by men, most of whom are said to be of North African descent. Mrs Merkel said there is “no point in believing that I can solve the problem through the unilateral closure of borders”. She added: "I have no plan B."

GETTY Migrants have clashed with forces across Europe, raising tensions

She said in a television interview that although the migrant crisis has been a “difficult path”, the country’s reputation would grow by allowing millions of migrants into Germany. However, housing, food, clothing and integration policies will cost around a staggering £16.5billion this year and another £20billion next year, according to the Cologne Institute for Economic Research said. At least 1.1million migrants made their way to Germany last year while more than 300,000 of have been granted asylum.

Evicted Calais migrants sleep rough in Paris Wed, August 3, 2016 Hundreds of migrants evicted from the Calais Jungle camp sleep rough in Paris. Play slideshow Caters News Agency 1 of 191 Calais camp is dismantled as resident set fires and throw stones at Police

The Chancellor added: “This is a very important phase in our history. There is so much violence and hardship on our doorstep. What’s right for Germany in the long term? There, I think it is to keep Europe together and to show humanity.” Mrs Merkel has seen her popularity ratings plummet to a five-year low since she defended her open door policy.

GETTY More than 90,000 migrants entered Germany in January alone