European and Turkish leaders last night closed in on a "deal" they believe could be the silver bullet that will stem the flow of migrants into the European Union.
Following a day of talks in Brussels, the leaders emerged into a series of 1am news conferences hailing their new proposal to be a "breakthrough".
EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said: "This is a real game-changer.
"What we agreed upon in principle is a good option and is legally feasible but needs more discussion. We will make clear that the only viable way to come to Europe is through legal channels."
The proposal is based on an agreement between the EU and Turkey which, in one respect, seems remarkably simple: All "irregular migrants" who arrive on the Greek islands in boats from Turkey, including Syrians escaping war, will be sent back to Turkey.
For every Syrian citizen returned to Turkey, another Syrian - who has remained in Turkey and not tried the illegal route to the EU - will be eligible for legal asylum and resettlement in Europe.
Those who are sent back to Turkey but who are genuine refugees will end up at the back of the queue of those eligible for EU resettlement.
European Council President Donald Tusk said: "The days of irregular migration to Europe are over".
German Chancellor Angela Merkel first discussed the plan at a meeting with her Turkish counterpart at the Turkish embassy in Brussels on Sunday night.
Under the plan, she said that "irregular migration will be turned into regular migration".
It is hoped that the one-out, one-in proposal will discourage people from trying to enter Europe illegally because they know they will be turned straight around.
French President Francois Hollande added his support: "If security at borders is guaranteed, if Turkey respects its duty in terms of readmission - it is a complete system which will allow us to come back to Schengen (the EU open border policy).
"We finally have a coherent European action based on objectives and instruments that can be useful."
Turkey's Prime Minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, first tabled the proposal in return for specific demands from the EU, including €6bn (£4.6bn) in humanitarian aid for refugees currently in Turkey, accelerated talks on Turkey's proposed membership of the EU and visa free travel to the EU for Turkish citizens.
Mr Davutoglu said: "There was a need of a bold decision. Yesterday, before coming here, we studied the case in a careful manner and we brought some careful proposals.
"Our main objective is the humanitarian objective. Turkey is not demanding any money from anyone. Turkey is not responsible for this humanitarian tragedy."
However, the plan is full of pitfalls.
For instance, the legality of sending back people who have a genuine case for asylum and who have already arrived in the EU could be questionable.
Asylum laws are clear that all applications must be considered fully and people can't be returned to a country that isn't deemed safe which, some argue, includes Turkey.
The proposal could appear particularly unseemly and inappropriate given that it would mean that exhausted refugee families arriving by boat in Greece would be forced back to Turkey where conditions in refugee camps are not good.
Critically, the proposal rests on the implementation of an EU relocation scheme which has, to date, failed.
Just 3,400 refugees in its existing scheme, which was supposed to resettle tens of thousands, have actually been relocated to the EU.
There's also the fact that some EU countries - such as Hungary and the UK - won't be part of any Turkish resettlement plan anyway.
Finally, there was no clarity from the EU leaders over what happens to the nearly 40,000 migrants and refugees who are currently in Greece and being blocked from heading north after the closure of the Macedonian border.
The UN refugee agency said the EU's "quick fix" deal to send back refugees en masse to Turkey would contravene their right to protection under European and international law.
Vincent Cochetel, Europe regional director of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), said the commitment to resettle 20,000 refugees over two years, on a voluntary basis, remained "very low".
He said: "The collective expulsion of foreigners is prohibited under the European Convention of Human Rights.
"An agreement that would be tantamount to a blanket return to a third country is not consistent with European law, not consistent with international law."
Amnesty International said the proposal "shows an alarmingly short-sighted and inhumane attitude to handling this crisis".
Leaders will continue to discuss the proposal at bilateral meetings between now and another two-day summit on 17 March when they hope the deal can be signed and implemented.
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