Division over the migration crisis is threatening to rip the European Union apart.

EU leaders have begun emergency talks, ahead of a crucial summit later this week on how to address the migration crisis.

It comes as around a thousand migrants have been rescued or are waiting rescue in the Mediterranean Sea.

Europe correspondent Catherine Field told Mike Hosking European relations are deteriorating under the strain.

"The French president Emmanuel Macron is going to Rome tomorrow, and also to the Vatican to meet the Pope. He is not going to call in on any of the new Italian government."