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<p>This Government is fully committed to helping and supporting the most vulnerable
refugees affected by the migration crisis. We continue to work closely with Greece
and other EU Member States in respect of immigration matters. We have frequent contact
with the Greek authorities, at official and ministerial level, to discuss the situation
for migrants. The UK is providing support to help the Greek authorities, the European
Asylum Support Office and the European Commission deal with flows of migrants, including
by deploying experts and interpreters to the Greek islands as well as specialists
to the EU Commission team in Athens. <br>The UK is also working very closely with
EU Member States to support unaccompanied asylum seeking children. However, the primary
responsibility for unaccompanied children lies with the authorities of the Member
State in which they are present; the UK Government does not have the authority to
operate on the territory of another sovereign state without permission.</p><p>We share
a special relationship with France and have a strong track record of cooperating with
France to manage migration and to protect our shared border. As part of the Sandhurst
Treaty, signed between the UK and France on 18 January 2018, both parties agreed to
further enhance cooperation in a number of areas, including migration. This includes
a number of further measures in respect of unaccompanied asylum-seeking and refugee
children, and a commitment to support France in its provision of accommodation facilities
located outside the Calais and Dunkirk areas, such as Reception and Assessment Centres.
Further information on the treaty can be found here: <a href="http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2018-01-19/HCWS415/"
target="_blank">http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2018-01-19/HCWS415/</a>.</p>
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