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Germany and partners consider 'transit zones' for refugees

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and her coalition partners have agreed some areas on how to deal with the refugee crisis but need more talks on other points following a meeting, a government spokesman said.

An extra 100,000 migrants and refugees will be taken to welcome centres to ease the crisis, after a deal agreed by European and Balkan state leaders during an emergency summit.

According to the UNHCR, more than 643,000 refugees and migrants from the Middle East, Africa and Asia have crossed the Mediterranean to Europe this year, with at least 3,135 known to have died en route.

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EU and Balkan leaders hold emergency talks on refugee crisis

Refugees and migrants wait to cross the border with Coatia near the village of Berkasovo, Servia. Credit: Reuters

European Union and Balkan leaders are to hold emergency talks later today after three countries threatened to close their borders in northern EU states stop accepting refugees and migrants.

The meeting, called by European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, will include the leaders of 10 EU countries including German Chancellor Angela Merkel, plus the leaders of Albania, Serbia and Macedonia.

Bulgaria, Romania and Serbia on Saturday warned they would not allow themselves to become a "buffer zone" for the tens of thousands of arrivals streaming into Europe.

"All three countries... are ready if Germany and Austria and other countries close their borders (...), we will be ready to also close our borders at that very same moment," Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov said after talks between the three Balkan leaders in Sofia.

Serbia has been swamped by refugees and migrants making their way from Greece and Macedonia to northern Europe, though Bulgaria and Romania have been much less affected.

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Germany and partners consider 'transit zones' for refugees

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