Former Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou says the European Union must stick together on issues like the refugee crisis, if it is to survive.

Mr Papandreou led Greece between 2009 and 2011, when he oversaw the implementation of strict austerity measures and the country's first bailout in 2010.

He is in Dublin for a speech on the future of Greece and the EU later.

He will address the Institute of International and European Affairs with a speech entitled: 'A new vision for Europe and Greece - The only way forward'.

Mr Papandreou told Newstalk Breakfast the only way Europe can tackle its problems is to do it together.

"We will not survive just by going back to our national tribes and, say, closing our doors, building walls" he said.

"Problems are going to seep through - whether it's climate change, whether its refugees, whether it's the issue of financial crisis, whether it's competitiveness".

"We have to stick together, build together, we have to mitigate these problems".

"If we don't do that we will see more and more problems at our doorsteps, and we will not be able to deal with them" he added.

Mr Papandreou says Ireland has set an example for countries that are in a similar situation.

"We still are fighting for this, and I think this is where Ireland has been able to show a different path - a difficult one - and sometimes maybe the Irish people have felt an unfair deal of paying for the misnomers of the banks".

"But you have been able to create a sense of credibility, both inside Europe but also for the markets - and I think that has helped you come out quite quickly".

Listen to his interview below: