"If we see the point of entry of most of the candidates to asylum in Europe, it is normally Greece and Italy, and if we see the asylum requests submitted last year, 46% were in Germany and Sweden," Guterres said at a news conference in Stockholm. "It's clear that the current system does not function correctly."


Under EU rules, asylum seekers should submit their application in the first member state they arrive in.


To overcome the problem, Guterres argued, there is a need to "think in an innovative way". He expressed support for "political initiatives" in the EU "aimed, for example at having in certain situations ways of distribution by quotas", which he described as "an extreme solution" to be used when coping with "a massive flow"


It was confirmed this week that Guterres's term as high commissioner has been extended for a further year, to the end of 2016. He has made clear that this should not prevent him from standing as a candidate for president of Portugal, as many in his Socialist Party hope he will do, should he so decide.