Region: Europe

BGIPU hosted a virtual bilateral meeting between UK and Croatian Parliamentarians led by Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger MP, Vice-Chair of the BGIPU and on the Croatian side by Deputy Speaker of the Parliament, Mr Željko Reiner,

Constructive exchange for UK MPs/Peers with counterparts in Croatia Sabor

On 23 November 2020, BGIPU hosted a virtual bilateral meeting between UK and Croatian Parliamentarians. The meeting was moderated by Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger MP, Vice-Chair of the BGIPU, and he was joined on the UK side by Baroness Barker, Baroness Scott, Mr Chris Matheson MP, the Earl of Sandwich, Lord Randall, Mr Martin Vickers MP. […]

The virtual roundtable gave MPs and Peers a unique experience to learn directly from UK Missions who have has valued and unique insights into the national experiences and responses of each of their respective countries of accreditation.

Comparisons and key challenges in Europe’s COVID-19 responses

BGIPU hosted a virtual roundtable discussion on 16 July focusing on the different COVID-19 experiences of some of our closest European neighbours. The event was chaired by BGIPU Chair, Harriett Baldwin MP and featured three UK Mission representatives from the region: Eleanor Sanders, Deputy Head of Mission to Italy; Nerys Jones, Deputy Head of Mission […]

MPs & Peers participated to hear from the British Red Cross and MSF on the plight of refugees and migrants facing the impacts of COVID-19

Increased Risks & Vulnerabilities from COVID-19 to Refugees & Migrant Populations

On Friday 19 June, BGIPU hosted a virtual parliamentary discussion on COVID-19: The Increased Risks and Vulnerabilities to Refugees and Migrant Populations with The British Red Cross (BRC) and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). The proceedings were chaired by BGIPU Executive Committee member, Chris Law MP, with panellists from both BRC and MSF. The event was […]

The BGIPU's first ever virtual bilateral exchange was held on 8 June with parliamentary counterparts from Sweden

Virtual exchange with Sweden underscores, as ever, the value of bilateral dialogue

On 8 June, BGIPU members met Swedish parliamentarians in our first ever virtual bilateral meeting.  Swedish counterparts welcomed BGIPU’s initiative of conducting virtual bilateral talks to maintain exchanges at a time when inter-parliamentary dialogue between MPs remains vital but conditions for international travel remain severely disrupted. The meeting was led by BGIPU Chair, Harriett Baldwin […]

IPU concerned about vulnerability of detained MPs during pandemic

The IPU is increasingly concerned about parliamentarians in detention during the COVID-19 pandemic due to greater risks of infection in overcrowded and confined spaces. In its first virtual sitting, the IPU Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians paid particular attention to the 43 Members of Parliament (MPs) currently in detention in the world, especially […]

Executive Committee convenes to review current operational plans & programme activities

The Chair of the BGIPU, Harriett Baldwin MP, convened on 21 May 2020 a virtual meeting of the BGIPU Executive Committee to review operational changes made by the Secretariat in line with health and social distancing requirements, developments and deferrals to the agreed forward programme and to discuss new agreed virtual activities to be provided […]