Frans Timmermans, the Netherlands’ European commissioner and vice president of the EU, is concerned about the future of the European Union.

Referring to the way the institution is being tested by the sudden influx of refugees, Timmermans said on Monday night that ‘for the first time’ he is considering the fact that ‘it could run aground’. ‘We have to do all we can to prevent this,’ Timmermans said on Twitter.

The refugee crisis, coming so soon after the financial crisis, is creating a ‘perfect storm’, Timmermans said. There is a risk that the ‘every man for himself’ school of thought will win.

In addition, Europe has to deal with a lack of confidence in both itself and in member states, the former Dutch foreign minister said.

Timmermans was answering questions from the public after giving a speech in Amsterdam when he made the comments.

In his speech, Timmermans said that the current political order has no good response to the criticism from populist parties and that the fears which are being fanned from the sidelines are not being properly dealt with.