Ventotene - German Chancellor Angela Merkel says that the European Union is currently facing "enormous challenges" and needs to work together.
Speaking alongside her Italian and French counterparts on Monday, she said "we feel that faced with Islamist terrorism and in light of the civil war in Syria that we need to do more for our internal and external security".
Among other things, she said defence co-operation should be strengthened and that intelligence services need to intensify their exchange of information.
She also says European nations need to continue to cooperate in their fight against the smuggling of migrants across the Mediterranean and to protect Europe's external borders.
Merkel says: "more needs to be done for our internal and external security".
