All Party Parlliamentary Groups (APPGs) may apply to the BGIPU Secretariat for financial assistance to facilitate inward and outward parliamentary exchanges with their countries. As a requirement of this funding the APPG must submit a report to the BGIPU detailing the outcomes of their activities.
When I took on the chairmanship of the APPG for Armenia a couple of years ago I was promised that it was a relatively inactive group, and the workload would be minimal. Within months, neighbouring Azerbaijan had invaded the disputed Armenian territory of Nagorno-Karabakh and military incursions are ongoing; claims and counter-claims about human rights […]
From 15 – 22 September 2019, a cross-party group of MPs and Peers from the All-Party Parliamentary Group for the Polar Regions spent eight days circumnavigating Iceland by road, having meetings with politicians and scientists en route. All members of the APPG for the Polar Regions were invited to apply to take part in the trip. […]
I led a cross party delegation to Jakarta Indonesia from August 16th-21st, the first by the APPG for Indonesia, which I chair. The delegation consisted of Conservative MPs, Chair of the British Group of the IPU, Rt Hon John Whittingdale and Stephen Metcalfe; and Labour MPs, Shadow Women and Equalities Secretary, Dawn Butler and Shadow […]
During 17 -20 September 2019, the Thailand All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) visited Bangkok, Thailand, at the invitation of the Royal Thai Embassy. Roger Godsiff MP, Chair of the APPG, led a delegation of UK parliamentarians which included Sir Graham Brady MP, Sir David Amess MP, and Lord Astor of Hever. The visit was organised […]
The Parliament of the Kingdom of Morocco, supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, invited the British All-Party Parliamentary Group on Morocco to send a Delegation during the week commencing 17th September 2018 aimed at promoting bilateral links between the two parliaments and furthering good relations between the Kingdoms.
From 16-20 September, a delegation coordinated by the APPG for Sudan and South Sudan visted Sudan with support from the UK Embassy in Khartoum and the Sudanese Parliament. The aim of the visit was to renew the unique and enduring relationship between the UK and Sudan and reiterate our commitment to peace and prosperity for the Sudanese people. The delegation met with the Sudanese Government, parliament and civil society to get a full picture of what it’s like to live in Sudan today, including visiting the conflict-affected region of Darfur.
From 23 August to 31 August 2018, the APPG for the Polar Regions visited Greenland to begin a dialogue with “Inatsisartut” (the Greenlandic Parliament) and “Naalakkersuisut” (the Government of Greenland), and learn more about the opportunities and challenges facing Greenland at a time of rapid environmental, geopolitical and economic change.
Against the backdrop of recent legal reforms in Poland, Brexit, Europe’s migrant crisis and the re-emergence of Russia as a threat to NATO, the APPG visit this July was timely, very interesting and immensely valuable. The APPG was able to ensure our Polish counterparts knew of the United Kingdoms’ gratitude for their friendly voice during the Brexit process as well as assure them of our commitment to them, their diaspora and our longstanding friendship.
Three members of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Kazakhstan visited the country’s twenty-year-old capital city from Tuesday 29 May until Saturday 2 June. The delegation comprised Stephen Hepburn (MP for Jarrow, Labour), Lord Rogan (Cross Bencher) and the Chairman of the APPG for Kazakhstan, Bob Stewart (MP for Beckenham; Conservative). The principal aim of the visit was to learn about Kazakhstan and to meet various sections of society there – especially parliamentarians.
With more than 400,000 Romanians currently living in the UK – amongst the largest communities of non-British resident nationals – APPG Romania paid a five day visit to Bucharest (28 May-1 June) to strengthen inter-Parliamentary relations, and find out how best we can support the Romanian diaspora and work together to address challenges. Our visit came also in the country’s centennial year, and a few months prior to it assuming the presidency of the European Council, an office Romania will hold as the Article 50 process expires.
