Germany said on Thursday it will speed up the repatriation of rejected asylum-seekers as new figures showed the country inching closer to the million-migrant mark and EU forecasts showed even more people seeking refuge in Europe next year.

After weeks of infighting in Germany's ruling coalition over how to absorb record numbers of migrants, Chancellor Angela Merkel and the leaders of two allied parties agreed that those deemed economic migrants - from countries not at war - would be sent home within three weeks.

The coalition leaders also agreed to set up three to five "reception centers" for asylum-seekers deemed on arrival to have little chance of being allowed to stay - a move aimed at making it easier to repatriate those denied refugee status.