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<p>The Goverment continues to work with key EU Member States to ensure the Dublin
Regulation family reunification process works effectively.</p><p>Under the UK-France
Joint Declaration of 20 August 2015, the UK and France have committed to ensuring
that provisions of the Dublin III Regulation are used efficiently and effectively.
To assist the handling of such cases, the two Governments have established a permanent
official contact group, agree single points of contact within respective Dublin Units
and a UK asylum expert was seconded to the French administration to faciliate the
improvement of all stages of the process. The UK and France are running regular joint
communication campaigns in northern France which inform unaccompanied children and
others of their right to claim asylum in France and the family reunion process.</p><p>We
are also providing support to the Dublin units in Greece and Italy, both bilaterally
and through European Asylum Support Office (EASO).</p><p>On the 4 May the Prime Minister
announced the Goverment will work with local authorities on plans to resettle unaccompanied
refugee children from Europe. We are looking to transfer children who are already
present in Europe before the EU-Turkey deal came into force on 20 March.</p><p>Ministers
and senior officials are engaged in ongoing discussions with Greece, Italy, and France
to identify and transfer to the UK unaccompanied refugee children where it is in their
best interests. We are also consulting local authorities, non-governmental organsitations,
UNICEF and UNHCR.</p><p>The UK is the largest bilateral contributor to the humanitarian
response to the crisis in Europe and the Balkans with a total contribution of £65
million. This includes nearly £46 million to provide life saving aid to migrants and
refugees including food, water, hygiene kits and infant packs, and protection for
the most vunerable, as well as support to organisations helping goverments build their
capacity to manage arrivals in Greece and the Balkans. The efforts of the partners
we fund are targeted to reach the most vulnerable including children.</p><p>It also
includes the £10 million Refugee Children Fund the Department for International Development
(DFID) has created the needs to vulnerable refugee and migrant children specifically
in Europe. The fund will support three specialist and mandated organisations the UNHCR,
Save the Children and the International Rescue Committee to work with host authorities
to care for and assist unaccompanied or separated children in Europe and the Balkans.</p>
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