WARSAW: A Polish official says his country is prepared to accept 2,000 refugees as part of a European Union plan.

The number is lower than the nearly 2,700 the EU had asked Poland to accept. Many refugees make risky boat trips, along with migrants seeking a better life.

Deputy Interior Minister Piotr Stachanczyk says Poland made the offer on Thursday in Luxembourg where ministers agreed on how to distribute 20,000 refugees being housed outside Europe. So far, however, EU members haven't managed to agree on how to divide 40,000 expected to make their way to Greece and Italy over the next two years.

Stachanczyk says Poland has offered 1,000 places for refugees in camps outside of Europe and 1,000 for migrants who arrive by sea in Italy and Greece.