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<p>As notified in my statement of 21 April, HCWS687, 75 UK expert personnel will be
deployed to Greece to support implementation of the EU-Turkey Migration Agreement
and will conduct a number of duties. A proportion of the UK expert personnel will
work closely with European Asylum Support Officer (EASO) coordinators and the Greek
Asylum Service to process cases through the admissibility process and provide expert
support to the Greek authorities and other EU partners on overall co-ordination of
the response. Supporting the operation of the Greek asylum service is a fundamental
part of this Government’s approach to identifying individuals in need of protection
at the earliest possible opportunity and ensuring they are identified as eligible
for family reunification consideration under the terms of Dublin Regulation.</p><p>This
is in addition to the support that we are already providing to European partner Dublin
Units. Two UK experts have already been deployed to the Greek Dublin Unit and have
provided valuable assistance. A third was due to be deployed, however, EASO has informed
us that support to the Greek Dublin Unit is currently at full complement. We stand
ready to deploy our experts as soon as they are required. We are confident that through
our cooperation and concerted joint efforts we can identify and facilitate the swift
transfers of cases through our national systems and make effective use of the Dublin
Regulation.</p><p>As announced on 4 May we are now looking to transfer children who
were already present in Europe before the EU-Turkey deal came into force on 20 March,
where it is in their best interests. It is important that we ensure we fulfil our
obligations to children who are already in UK, as well ensuring we have the right
support for those who may be brought to the UK from Europe. We are working with the
relevant Member States, the UNHCR and other Non-Governmental Organisations and local
authorities to establish the best way to implement the provisions of the Immigration
Act 2016 for the transfer of unaccompanied refugee children from Europe to the UK.</p>
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