A key European Union summit may end without a deal to resolve a row over ways to tackle irregular migration.

Italy – the entry point of thousands of migrants, mainly from Africa – says it will veto a joint statement over the entire agenda if no solution is found.

Leaders are discussing the sticking point over dinner.

Italy wants other countries to share the burden. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said the issue could be a defining moment for the EU.

Mrs Merkel is under pressure to come up with a deal to prevent new arrivals.

Interior Minister Horst Seehofer, from her Bavarian coalition partner the CSU, has given her until this weekend. Otherwise he has said he will start turning away migrants from the border in his home state.