Advertisement

  1. National

EU leaders pledge extra €1 billion to tackle refugee crisis

The "greatest tide" of refugees is yet to come, Europe's leaders have been warned as they pledged another €1 billion (£733 million) to tackle the crisis.

Heads of state were locked in talks for more than five hours in Brussels as they attempted to overcome divisions and find a unified response.

Speaking after the emergency summit, European Council president Donald Tusk said while they had taken a step in the right direction, the policy of "open doors and windows" must be corrected.

Prime Minister David Cameron - who committed an extra £115 million in aid - said a "comprehensive approach" was needed to solve the crisis.

View all 22 updates ›

Czech Republic will not challenge the quota system

The Czech Republic's Prime Minister has said the country will not challenge the quota system approved by the EU.

Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka said on Wednesday that even though he disagrees with the quota system, "Europe must not fall apart on the migration crisis".

Although I don't like using the quotas, I disagree with them and we voted against them, Europe must not fall apart on the migration crisis.

Therefore I don't want to further escalate the tension by (court) charges. You can stretch the rope only to certain point, then it parts.

– Sobotka said in a statement.

More on this story