ISIS has become an existential threat to Iraq and the entire Middle East region. To us in Europe, too, this poses a danger which should in no way be underestimated.

Even in a region where people for a long time have had to cope with everyday violence, hatred, suffering and oppression the monstrous brutality of this group beggars belief.

It is in our own best interest that ISIS be stopped and its further advance in the region prevented. Those opposing ISIS and providing shelter for defenceless people therefore deserve our full support.

It goes without saying that all persons in need of protection and all those providing aid deserve our humanitarian assistance, but we will have to examine whether we can or indeed must do more. We will therefore discuss with our European partners as quickly as possible how we can live up to our responsibility. In view of the dramatic situation I think we really have to go to the limits of what is feasible here in political and legal terms.