Over one million reach Europe by sea

More than one million refugees and migrants have reached Europe by sea since the start of 2015, the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) says. More than 80% of the 1,000,573 people arrived in Greece, with the majority landing on Lesbos island, it said. About 844,000 travelled to Greece from nearby Turkey. Most of the others - over 150,000 - crossed the Mediterranean from Libya to Italy. The migrant crisis is Europe's worst since World War Two. Migration to Europe in graphics Migrants offered 'bad weather discounts' The migrants reaching Europe by land The number of sea arrivals has increased vastly since 2014, when it was recorded at slightly more than 216,000. "Increasing numbers of refugees and migrants take their chances aboard unseaworthy boats and dinghies in a desperate bid to reach Europe," the UNHCR said on its website. "The vast majority of those attempting this dangerous crossing are in need of international protection, fleeing war, violence and persecution in their country of origin." About 49% of those crossing the Mediterranean Sea are from Syria, with 21% coming from Afghanistan, it added. The number of those dead or missing at sea is now at 3,735.  Paul Adams in Lesbos says that while the island feels less overwhelmed than usual, thousands more people are still waiting to be registered so they can travel further into Europe.

Migrant crisis dominates as EU holds final summit of 2015

Germany and several other nations are to discuss with Turkey ways of settling thousands of Syrian refugees ahead of the final EU summit of the year. Those attending the meeting will discuss a proposal to resettle Syrians straight from camps in Turkey. But German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the driving force behind the plans, faces resistance from other EU states. Thursday's full EU summit in Brussels is set to focus heavily on the migrant crisis which has divided members.