Karen Lumley MP led a delegation of British Parliamentarians to Serbia in March from the 12th to 15th March 2013 to improve Serbian – British relations and future co-operation between both countries.
A delegation of Parliamentarians from the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia visited the UK Parliament from 12th to 14th March 2013. The Slovenian Members of Parliament Ms Tamara Vonta and Mr Roman Jakič were joined by the Secretary of the Parliamentary Friendship Group Ms Milojka Nemanič. The visit was organised by Neil Parish MP, Chairman of the British-Slovenia All-Party Parliamentary Group, who are affiliated with the British Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union.
The work of the delegation reflected three connected themes. Firstly, our message of how the European Union stands to benefit from Croatia’s forthcoming membership. Secondly, how Croatia’s economy can now be improved through its 2013 European Union membership as well as through its existing Council of Europe membership. Thirdly, how in 2013 the UK can continue to help Croatia in general, and in particular advise on evolving sound working practices between its government and parliament and Brussels.
Our visit to Zagreb was timely, given Croatia’s imminent entry into the European Union as its 28th member. Our party’s interests ranged widely in the educational, cultural, community and civil stability fields. Trade, tourism, economic matters featured strongly with a natural UK bent. The sub-set of Scottish (and Yorkshire!) interests played well against complementary Croatian regional concerns.
Fabian Hamilton hosted a visit of Icelandic Parliamentarians in Westminster to discuss Iceland’s economic future. The opportunity helped to bring Icelandic and British MPs even closer together.
At the beginning of 2012, after only a few months in post, the new Danish Ambassador, H.E Anne Steffensen had the responsibility of promoting the six months of the Danish Presidency of the Council of the EU in this country. In difficult circumstances for the EU, much was achieved.
The Delegation of 5 Parliamentarians led by the Speaker of the Assembly of Kosovo visited Westminster 29 October – 2 November. The delegation met with Mr Speaker, the Lord Speaker, Minister for Europe, David Lidington MP and a number of UK Parliamentarians to discuss the strong support the UK has given to Kosovo with regards to international recognition, the route towards European integration and possibilities to enhance further the UK-Kosovo bilateral relationship.
The British-Latvian All-Parliamentary Group aims to strengthen relations between the United Kingdom and Latvia. The group was formed in 2011 and has hosted a number of events in the United Kingdom as part of that goal. From 23-26 September 2012, a crossparty delegation of four members visited Latvia’s capital, Riga, for the first time and met with members of the Latvian Government, Members of the Latvian Saeima (Parliament), visited local business and learned more about Latvian culture and heritage.
The BGIPU and the Secretariat will from time to time organise fundraising events for charities and projects visited in their work. On 12 September the team organised a “Pub Quiz” to raise funds for two childrens charities in Uganda.
The British Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (BGIPU) hosted a parliamentary delegation from Bosnia-Herzegovina (BiH) from 26-29 June 2012. Overall, the key message of the delegation was that there was broad agreement among the various political groups in BiH, including across all ethnic constituencies, but that they must quickly and cooperatively address sensitive issues around identity and ethnic differences by pursuing effective constitutional reform.
