The Greek parliament has approved a bill that amends its asylum laws to pave the way for the planned return of asylum seekers to Turkey, according to the nation's parliamentary office. The law passed late Friday with 169 votes in favour and 107 votes against, thereby enabling the implementation of a controversial agreement between the European Union and Turkey to reduce the influx of migrants, dpa reported. According to the deal, any migrants who reached the Greek islands from Turkey after March 20 and do not apply for asylum - or fail to qualify - will be returned to Turkey, a major transit country for people trying to reach Europe. The migration deal, which is scheduled to go into effect on Monday, drew renewed criticism Friday from the Amnesty International human rights organization and from the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR).
