European Union ministers have voted by a majority in favour of relocating 120,000 migrants and refugees across member states.

The quota plan is aimed at taking the pressure off certain countries such as Germany - the final destination for many - as well as Italy and Greece where they first arrive.

However the 28-member bloc remains bitterly divided over the best way to tackle the continent's worst refugee crisis since World War Two.

Four former communist nations - Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia - voted against the plan while Finland abstained, Czech interior minister Milan Chovanec said on Twitter.

He said: "We will soon realise that the emperor has no clothes. Common sense lost today."

Prague had earlier warned that any attempt to approve such a scheme would be unworkable and could end in "big ridicule" for governments and EU authorities.

But the UN refugee agency, the UNHCR, said the 120,000 figure was equivalent to the number of migrants and refugees that arrive in Europe over a 20 day-period.

Almost half a million people, fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East, Africa and Asia, have made their way to Europe this year, leading to disputes between countries over border controls and how to share out the numbers responsibly.

Arriving in Greece and Italy, many then head north through eastern European countries such as Hungary, Croatia and Slovenia, to more affluent nations including Germany.

In the Balkans, a war of words between high-level politicians is straining relations further – with Hungary allowing the Army to use non-lethal force against those trying to cross its borders.

Under new legislation, Budapest is authorising soldiers to use rubber bullets, tear gas and grenades – and the Hungarian government insists it is respecting EU rules.

Serbia has denounced Hungary, which has erected a razor-wire fence along its border to deter migrants, for using tear gas against those trying to enter the EU member state.

Croatia has also been criticised for sending thousands of migrants and refugees to the borders it shares with Slovenia and Hungary, while also closing the road crossings it shares with Serbia.

However, Croatia's Prime Minister has brushed away Serbia's complaints, apparently suggesting Serbia was small and unimportant in terms of its international reach.

"An eagle does not hunt flies. Croatia is an eagle," Zoran Milanovic said.

Serbia was already unhappy at being excluded from the EU meeting.

Although the Balkan state is not a member state – it has been keenly affected by the migration crisis, with thousands of people passing through the country in a bid to reach the 28-nation bloc.