European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker expressed his deep concern over the negative reception some refugees are experiencing from a large proportion of European countries, in a hard-hitting article he published in the German newspaper Die Welt on Sunday.

He harshly criticized rising ‘populism’ in the EU countries regarding the refugee crisis, particularly targeting extreme-left and right politicians, who he charged use rhetoric that causes grave indignation but offers no solutions.

“In Europe we have the highest asylum standards in the world”, he writes. The veteran politician went on to say that Europe will never reject people seeking its protection, adding that this rejection is “Not Europe”.