Portugal has the capacity to take in more refugees than the 1,500 set in its quota, Portugal's Minister for Regional Development Miguel Poiares Maduro said Thursday.

"All I can say is that Portugal, surely, is prepared to receive a larger number of refugees, hoping that that same solidarity and availability also exists in other European states," he told journalists at a press conference following a cabinet meeting.

Poaires Maduro also pointed out that Portugal's response to the migrant crisis depended on "decisions that have to be adopted at a common level in Europe."

His comments came as Europe faces the worst refugee crisis since the end of the Second World War, with the image of a drowned boy from Syria circling the net on Thursday and prompting pledges for governments to help put an end to the war.

At least 4 million people have escaped Syria since the conflict started, and around 2,500 migrants died or disappeared this year trying to reach Europe.

Poaires Maduro said a group formed in Portugal to coordinate work in different services related to a reception plan for refugees would be revealed on Thursday.

He added that Portugal's position was that "surely, no state or national government should contribute to a climate that hinders even more the reception of refugees."

The European Commission has drawn up an emergency plan to relocate 160,000 refugees around the continent, with migrants allocated according to a state's economic wealth and population.

The Portuguese authorities gave asylum to just 40 refugees last year out of 155 asylum seekers who lodged an application in Portugal.