BRUSSELS
Turkey is working to a three-year deadline to readmit migrants who crossed into the EU from its territory so it can open talks on giving its nationals visa-free travel in the union.
An agreement signed last year came into force Wednesday, meaning EU states will be able to send illegal migrants who entered Europe via Turkey back to Turkey. The system must be fully operational before the EU will consider visa-free travel for Turks.
European Commissioner for Home Affairs Anna Cecilia Malmstrom said the agreement would "help to better manage the irregular migration flows arriving in the EU from Turkish territory."
In a statement from the European Commission, she added: "A full and effective implementation of the readmission agreement is also one of the requirements included in the roadmap towards the visa-free regime with Turkey.
"Therefore today's entry into force of the agreement represents important progress in the perspective of visa liberalization."
After three years, Turkey will begin negotiating with the EU for visa-free travel for its citizens.
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