Asked by: Lord Bowness (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with other Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) participating states about the participating states’ failure to reach agreement on the extension or renewal of the mandates of the OSCE Secretary General and of the heads of the OSCE's other executive structures.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The UK is engaging with participating states from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) including Albania as its Chair-in-Office, to support the application process in securing successors for the four top jobs in OSCE. The UK is working with states to identify suitable candidates who share our core values on elections, democratic institutions, rule of law, and freedom of media. The process requires the consensus of all 57 states by 3 December when a final decision will be made at the Foreign Minister's Council.
Asked by: Lord Bowness (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to establish an international contact group to ensure that the government of China respects their (1) legal, and (2) moral, obligations towards Hong Kong; and which countries, if any, have been approached to form any such international contact group.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
We have made clear to China, alongside our international partners, our concerns about the current situation in Hong Kong. China's decision to impose this legislation lies in direct conflict with its international obligations under the principles of the legally-binding, UN-registered Sino-British Joint Declaration.
As the Foreign Secretary said in Parliament on 2 June, we want to build up a groundswell of those who share our commitment to international law. We believe this is the most effective means of getting China to live up to its obligations and responsibilities as a leading member of the international community. On 17 June, the Foreign Secretary issued a statement together with other G7 foreign ministers urging the Government of China to reconsider its decision to impose the legislation.
We are also working within international institutions. The UK delivered a statement at the 43rd session of the UN Human Rights Council, on 16 June, urging China to engage with Hong Kong's people, institutions, and judiciary to ensure it maintains Hong Kong's high degree of autonomy and rights and freedoms. The UK and the US raised Hong Kong at the UN Security Council on 28 May.
Asked by: Lord Bowness (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 24 March (HL2422), what discussions they have had with (1) the EU, and (2) individual member states about allowing UK citizens to visit the EU for up to 180 days without a visa.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The EU has already legislated such that UK nationals will not need a visa when travelling to the Schengen area for short stays of up to 90 days in every 180-day period. This will apply from the end of the transition period to all UK nationals travelling to and within the Schengen area for purposes such as tourism.
Provisions for UK nationals intending to stay in the Schengen area for longer than 90 days in any 180-day period will depend on the approach taken by the EU or by the relevant Member State(s). UK nationals intending to stay in the Schengen Area for longer may need a visa or permit to do so. Member State rules vary and UK nationals should check entry requirements with the Embassy of the relevant Member State.
Future mobility arrangements with the EU are subject to ongoing negotiations. Information about travel to the EU for UK nationals after the transition period is provided on the gov.uk website and these pages are updated regularly.