21/02/2017 (Agence Europe) – The President of the French Republic, François Hollande, who will step down in May, called on the United Kingdom on Tuesday 21 February to take its responsibilities towards unaccompanied minor asylum seekers currently in France and with family on the other side of the channel. “We have made the effort to shelter them, to host them; they want to go to the UK, we have agreements with that country, our friend and neighbour; these must be fully respected”, the French head of state said (our translation) at a conference in Paris entitled "Protégeons les enfants de la guerre" (Let us protect children from war). The British government rejected the criticism, explaining that it had already made a great deal of effort, particularly following the dismantling of the Calais Jungle. Last year alone, "we took in 8,000 children", said Downing Street, quoted by The Independent. (SP)