EU states have backed an action plan with Turkey, which it is hoped will ease the flow of migrants to Europe, the BBC reports.

Nearly 600,000 migrants have reached the EU by sea so far this year, many of them travelling from Turkey.

The leaders agreed to speed up visa liberalisation talks for Turks if Ankara stems the influx and to “re-energise” Turkey’s accession dialogue.

Donald Tusk, the president of the European Council, said he felt “cautious optimism” over the deal.

Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov left the Brussels talk on hearing the news.

Turkey had also asked for €3bn in aid, something German Chancellor Angela Merkel said EU states were considering.

Jean-Claude Juncker, the president of the European Commission, said talks over the aid would continue with Turkish officials over the coming days.