| answer text |
<p>In the last three years the UK has provided over 1,000 working days to support
missions coordinated by the European Asylum Support Office (EASO) to other Member
States under pressure. This is more than any other EU Member State. In addition, we
continue to fund via the UNHCR asylum expertise to the Greek asylum system and support
a programme of assisted voluntary return of illegal migrants.</p><p>We also support
the European Commission’s proposals for 'Hot Spot' screening centres. These centres
will help ensure that migrants are registered and fingerprinted at pressure points
on the EU external border and that refugees are identified and protected quickly,
while those with no need of protection can be returned immediately. We are discussing
with EASO and Frontex how best we can contribute.</p><p>We have created a multi-agency
90-strong team from the National Crime Agency (NCA), Border Force, Immigration Enforcement
and the CPS to fight the criminal gangs that are exploiting vulnerable people and
are working closely with Europol to strengthen its operation to tackle organised crime
groups involved in smuggling people across sea and land routes. We are focusing on
tracking vessels in the Mediterranean and bringing together intelligence from EU and
Europol partners to target these criminals.</p><p>We continue to support Frontex operations
in the Mediterranean by providing debriefing and nationality screening experts to
Operations Triton and Poseidon. The UK has an outstanding offer of additional debriefing
and nationality screening experts which was made to Frontex during August. We are
currently awaiting directions from Frontex as to where this resource may best be utilised.</p><p>The
UK is excluded from the Frontex Regulation on Schengen-building grounds. Therefore
our officers participate in Frontex joint operations and other activities with the
agreement of the Management Board on a case-by-case basis in an observational/advisory
role.</p>
|
|
