MEPs backed on Wednesday a deal between the EU and Turkey to return clandestine migrants.

The agreement, which was signed in December last year, applies to citizens of both parties as well as "to third-country nationals who enter either the EU or Turkey via the other", a message on the European Parliament's website informs.

According to European Popular Party rapporteur Renate Sommer, after the ЕP's move it is up to Turkey to fulfill its obligations to implement the agreement in full.

Sommer expressed his confidence that the document will benefit both Turkey and the EU. She also underscored the future impact of the deal on curbing immigration into the bloc via Turkey and its contribution to fighting trans-border crime, including human trafficking.

The so-called "readmission" agreement obliges its signatories to take back migrants entering or living clandestinely on either territory.

In return for its commitment, Turkey will receive EU financial and technical assistance aimed at building up its border police and installing border surveillance equipment. The help by Europe regards all of Turkey's frontiers, which means precarious borderlines like those with Iraq, Iran, and Syria are also included.

The agreement now has to be formally ratified by both parties and will take effect two months after this step has been completed.

However, the obligation to readmit nationals from third countries with which Turkey has not concluded bilateral arrangements would come into force only three years later.

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