THE first Syrian refugees to take part in the British government's expanded resettlement programme arrived in the country yesterday, the Home Office confirmed.
The arrival of the group marks the first step to fulfilling British Prime Minister David Cameron's promise to resettle 20,000 Syrians over the next four-and-a-half years by expanding the vulnerable persons' resettlement scheme.
Last night the European Union voted to back a plan to relocate 120,000 refugees through a quota scheme which does not include Britain.
A Home Office spokeswoman said: "Today a number of people have arrived in the UK as part of the Vulnerable Persons' Resettlement (VPR) scheme. As the Prime Minister announced earlier this month, we will resettle 20,000 Syrians over the course of this Parliament through this scheme."
Britain and the Republic are not required to take part in the quota scheme because they are not part of the Schengen "borderless" area.
The Republic's Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald previously said the first refugees could arrive in the country within weeks, pending the approval of the Dáil and the Seanad.
The mainland Europe-wide scheme, designed to ease the burden on Italy, Greece and Hungary, was approved by a majority of the 28 EU interior ministers last night.
Slovakia, Romania, Hungary and the Czech Republic voted against the relocation scheme, while Finland abstained.
An EU leaders' summit on the refugee crisis will take place today.
Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond insisted Britain's refusal to participate in the resettlement scheme does not mean it is not helping in the refugee crisis.
He tweeted: "UK's JHA opt-out not opt-out from addressing £migration; UK largest EU donor to Syria crisis".
Mr Cameron is expected to use today's summit to urge EU leaders to do more in Syria, including tackling people-smuggling gangs.
In a statement, the European Commission acknowledged the need to tackle the "root causes" of the crisis.
International charity ActionAid said it was worried that countries that voted against the scheme will have to hold refugees while the new scheme is implemented.
Its head of humanitarian aid and emergencies, Mike Noyes, said: "Agreement across wider Europe has been needed for a long time, and this is a step forwards. The biggest worry is that those countries who voted against include those who have to hold refugees whilst the new plan is implemented."
But the Refugee Council called on Britain to take part in the EU scheme.
Its chief executive, Maurice Wren, said: "It's extremely disappointing that Britain has so far chosen to side step its responsibility to help protect some of the refugees arriving in Europe.
"The Prime Minister must demonstrate real leadership by putting aside domestic political concerns and proving he will not turn his back while refugees are met by closed borders, barbed wire fences and tear gas."
