GETTY Donald Tusk today said 1.5 million people had entered the EU illegally this year

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The staggering figure was revealed by European Council President Donald Tusk, as leaders from across the continent desperately tried to thrash out a way of stemming the flow of refugees into Europe. Hundreds of thousands of migrants - many fleeing war and persecution from North Africa and the Middle East - have poured into the continent this year, creating the worst refugee crisis since World War II.

Speaking today at a EU-Turkey summit, Mr Tusk spoke of his hopes of finally finding a way to ease the chaotic migrant situation. Leaders of the EU today signed an agreement with Turkey offering cash, visas and closer ties in exchange for Turkish help in reducing the numbers of refugees entering the continent.

AP Mr Tusk said the European Union must firmly control its external borders

Migrant crisis explained in numbers Fri, July 22, 2016 A monthly record of 218,394 migrants and refugees reached Europe by sea in October, the UN says, almost as many as the total number of arrivals in 2014. We take a look at the shocking statistics facing the humanitarian crisis. Play slideshow AFP/Getty Images 1 of 47 137 migrants of African origins were rescued by coast guard boats off the coast of Libya

Confirming that the main goal of the meeting was to tackle to refugee crisis, Mr Tusk: ”We have reached an agreement which I hope will be accepted. "This summit is about wider dimensions, namely re-energising our relations with Turkey including the accession process.” But Mr Tusk added that any deal with Turkey would not be enough to deal with the migrant dilemma if the EU does not firmly control its external borders.

Approximately 1.5 million people have illegally entered the EU in 2015 Donald Tusk

He said: ”Approximately 1.5 million people have illegally entered the EU in 2015. “Most have come through Turkey. Some seek shelter from war and persecution, others seek a better life and the few think to destroy our values. "We expect to see an immediate and substantial reduction of irregular migrants arriving to Europe." He added: ”Let us not us not be naive though. Turkey is not the only key to resolving the migration crisis. "The important one is our responsibility and duty to protect our external border. We cannot outsource this obligation to any third country. "Without control on our external borders, Schengen will become history. Recent developments have underlined that the issue of taking coordinated actions in Syria remains a priority."

GETTY French President Francois Hollande said reaching an agreement was 'is in everyone's interest'

GETTY German Chanellor Angela Merkel said 'we will agree on the EU Turkey action plan today'

The deal reached today will see the EU provide "an initial" €3 billion (£2.1 billion) over two years for Turkey to improve conditions for the 2.2 million Syrian refugees in the country. EU states have not agreed where the money will come from, although it is understood up to €500 million will come from central funds and that the 28 member states will pay the rest. Turks could also benefit from visa-free travel to Europe's Schengen zone within a year if Turkey meets conditions on tightening its borders in the east to Asian migrants and moves other benchmarks on reducing departures to Europe. Speaking of the meeting, French President Francois Hollande said reaching an agreement was “is in everyone's interest” as Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu called it “a historic day in our accession process to the EU”.