Countries should not take “unilateral” decisions on the migration crisis, Home Affairs Minister Carmelo Abela said today.

He was reacting to extensive news coverage of Hungarian police firing tear gas and water cannons at hundreds of migrants trying to climb over fences at the Serbian border.

Clashes between migrants and Hungarian riot police broke out yesterday afternoon after people frustrated at being blocked from the country pushed open a gate at the Serbian border.

Baton-wielding police responded with tear gas and water cannons, and migrants threw rocks and other objects at the police. Dozens of people were injured.

Hungarian authorities positioned barbed wire and a new gate at the border where the clashes occurred.

Mr Abela said: "All states should act responsibly. We understand the difficulty and the need for help, but decisions can’t be taken unilaterally.”

He said all states should come together and discuss this issue collectively.

“The situation is not ideal; it is worrying, especially as this is a humanitarian situation. And I think this needs to be treated as such,” the minister said.