Strasbourg, September 9 (RHC)-- The European Commission president has announced plans to deal with Europe's worst refugee crisis since World War II, urging the European Union member states to take "bold" action to tackle the problem.

Under the proposals unveiled by Jean-Claude Juncker on Wednesday, some 120,000 additional asylum seekers will be distributed among EU nations, with binding quotas. Juncker, who was addressing the European Parliament in Strasbourg, eastern France, said that the EU must agree to the compulsory relocation of 160,000 refugees next week.

“It is 160,000 that Europe has to take into their arms, this has to be done in a compulsory way. I call on the [European] Council to agree to take 160,000 at the interior ministers' meeting on September 14,” he said. A proposal in May to relocate 40,000 refugees was blocked by national leaders.

He also warned EU member states not to make religious distinctions when dealing with the refugees. “There is no religion, there is no belief, there is no philosophy when it comes to refugees,” Juncker said.

He described the fundamental right to asylum as one of the most important international and European values that should not be forgotten. He said the refugee crisis would not be resolved until the wars in Syria and Libya end, adding that Europe is fighting Daesh (ISIL) terrorists and therefore should help those fleeing the Takfiri group as well.

Europe is facing an unprecedented refugee crisis, which has escalated over the summer. The continent is now divided over how to deal with the flood of people, mainly Syrians fleeing the war in their homeland.

According to UN estimates, 300,000 people have left the Middle East and Africa so far this year for a better life in Europe.