Germany's transport minister on Sunday hit out at the "complete failure" of the European Union to protect its external borders, as he called for measures to halt a record migrant influx.

"Effective measures are necessary now to stop the influx. That includes help for countries from where refugees are fleeing and also includes an effective control of our own borders which also no longer works given the EU's complete failure to protect its external borders," Alexander Dobrindt said in a statement.