Germany re-imposes border controls

Germany pulled down the shutters on its borders, temporarily exiting the Schengen system and triggering a crisis as diplomats from all the EU countries struggled to reach agreement on the refugee problem in Brussels last night.

Syrians, in particular, who almost automatically qualify for refugee status, have been crossing into Germany in huge numbers, especially since Chancellor Angela Merkel said the country would welcome them last week.

But as thousands marched in cities throughout Europe demanding their governments show solidarity with those fleeing conflicts, Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic, Romania and Slovakia were saying they would not take a quota under an EU plan due to be agreed by justice and home affairs ministers in Brussels today.