BERLIN

Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel strongly defended her 2015 decision to open Germany's borders to Syrian refugees, saying the country has "accomplished much" over the past decade in integrating newcomers into society.

In an exclusive interview with public broadcaster ARD marking the 10th anniversary of her landmark decision, Merkel discussed the challenges and successes of Germany's refugee response efforts.

“I look back and realize that it was a significant decision I faced,” she said, emphasizing that it was a moral and humanitarian obligation to act, as tens of thousands of refugees fleeing war were suffering in transit countries like Hungary on their journey to Germany.

"The option was, do we take them in, or do we try something else? In my opinion, that would not have worked at all. Perhaps using water cannons or force to push them away? These would not have been options for me at all. I would never have agreed to that," she said.

Merkel's decision in the summer of 2015 presented Germany with enormous challenges. The country received over one million asylum applications in two years. Refugee facilities became overcrowded, and schools and daycare centers were strained. Many German municipalities found themselves overwhelmed by the sudden influx of refugees.

During the interview, the conservative leader also defended her widely debated phrase "We can do this," which she stated during a press conference on August 31, 2015, while addressing the refugee crisis.

"I've been surprised over the past few years by how often those three words, 'We can do this,' have been thrown back at me. They were meant to express nothing other than that we were facing a huge task," Merkel said, adding that she made the remarks during an extraordinary situation, when people did not know what to do amid the refugee influx.

"When I said, 'We can do this,' I recognized it was a huge task. I deliberately said, 'We can do this,' not 'I can do this,' because I was counting on the German people to address this enormous challenge," she added.

Merkel emphasized that Germany is a strong country and noted that they have "accomplished much" over the past decade in integrating newcomers into society. She also acknowledged this remains an ongoing process, stating that what still needs to be done must continue to be addressed.