German Chancellor Angela Merkel has met with the Turkish Prime Minister to discuss the prospect of fast-tracking Turkey's membership of the EU if the country agrees to accept refugees.

It comes as thousands of people made the journey into Slovenia from Croatia after Hungary closed its border to them on Friday.

The UN refugee agency says that about 4-thousand have arrived in Slovenia and most aim to travel on to western Europe.

Meanwhile, in Germany, a politician who supports refugees was stabbed over the weekend in Cologne.

Mayoral candidate Henriette Reker was campaigning when she was attacked by a man who police say is actively involved with far right organisations.

Ms Reker is seriously injured, but is expected to recover.

The assailant has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.