Asked by: Simon Kirby (Conservative - Brighton, Kemptown)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent support he has given to the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia for that country's candidacy to join the EU; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by David Lidington
The Government supports Macedonia’s candidacy to join the EU and welcomes the latest European Commission assessment that, given its cumulative progress over several years, Macedonia continues to meet the political criteria in terms of alignment with the Acquis. However, that positive recommendation is increasingly overshadowed by serious concerns over lack of political dialogue, politicisation of institutions and services, and media freedom. The UK continues to believe that the best way to address these concerns is through the opening of accession negotiations and the scrutiny of individual chapters.
Over the coming year, the UK will be calling on all stakeholders in Macedonia to make efforts to resolve its political crisis, increase the space for independent voices, and develop a joint approach to a multi-ethnic society. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office also uses its programme tools to contribute to these goals, such as supporting inter-ethnic education, increasing awareness of the concept of hate speech, and making information on government services open to all citizens.
Asked by: Simon Kirby (Conservative - Brighton, Kemptown)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what support his Department is giving to Moldova to integrate further with the EU; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by David Lidington
We work with EU partners to help Moldova bring its standards of governance in-line with EU best practice, including spreading greater transparency and accountability in the public sector and the promotion of EU standards and values. Key areas include tackling corruption and reform of the justice sector. The UK has led the implementation of a comprehensive EU communications campaign “Winning Hearts & Minds” which informs the public of the benefits of closer approximation with the EU and the benefits of projects that the EU and Member States have delivered in Moldova. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) contributes financially and acts as the lead coordinator. The FCO is working to get the best value from EU Twinning advisers, who provide technical advice in line ministries. In response to the embargoes imposed by the Russian Federation on the export of Moldovan fruit, vegetables and wine, the FCO brought a delegation from the Moldovan Ministry of Agriculture to the UK to demonstrate ways in which Moldova could improve its food safety standards and explore scope for diversifying its fruit and wine markets.Asked by: Simon Kirby (Conservative - Brighton, Kemptown)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to improve bilateral relations between Greece and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by David Lidington
Bilateral political relations between Greece and Macedonia continue to be overshadowed by inconclusive UN talks on the name issue. The UK is not directly involved in this process but we urge both sides to engage constructively to find a mutually acceptable solution as soon as possible. Ahead of the General Affairs Council in December, the UK’s position remains that we do not believe the name issue should be a block to beginning discussions with Macedonia over the negotiating framework for EU accession talks.
Asked by: Simon Kirby (Conservative - Brighton, Kemptown)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to assist Kosovo join international institutions; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by David Lidington
The UK has led international efforts to secure Kosovo’s membership of international organisations. In consequence Kosovo has become a member of the World Bank (2009), the International Monetary Fund (2009), the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development (2012), the Council of Europe Development Bank (2013) and most recently the Venice Commission (2014). The International Olympic Committee have also just granted provisional recognition to Kosovo. This follows lobbying by the UK during the London Olympics for Kosovo to be allowed to participate in the 2016 Olympics in Rio.
Asked by: Simon Kirby (Conservative - Brighton, Kemptown)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to encourage dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by David Lidington
The UK has been a strong supporter of the EU-facilitated Dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo, which has made significant progress over the last 18 months, including the historic 19 April 2013 agreement on beginning to normalise relations. The UK also helped ensure that the negotiating framework for Serbia’s EU accession process requires comprehensive normalisation of relations before Serbia can join the EU. Elections in Serbia and delays in forming the new Government of Kosovo have slowed the pace of implementation of the 19 April agreement this year, but some recent progress has been made on Integrated Border Management, Telecoms and Energy. In addition to the EU-facilitated Dialogue, Her Majesty's Government is also working on building better relationships, through promoting inter-ethnic commerce, encouraging more inter-ethnic dialogue, confidence building measures, and encouraging greater action from the government of Kosovo in recruiting ethnic-minorities into state institutions.Asked by: Simon Kirby (Conservative - Brighton, Kemptown)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to encouarge the diplomatic recognition of Kosovo; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by David Lidington
The UK strongly supports Kosovo’s diplomatic recognition efforts. We have lobbied with international partners to secure further recognitions. This year we are focussing our efforts on the five EU non-recognisers as this presents a major challenge to Kosovo’s progress on its EU path. Additionally we provide support to Kosovo, when requested, with their individual and targeted lobbying efforts.Asked by: Simon Kirby (Conservative - Brighton, Kemptown)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to help resolve the dispute over the name of Macedonia; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by David Lidington
This a bilateral issue between Greece and Macedonia. The UK continues to urge both sides to engage constructively to find a mutually acceptable solution to the name issue as soon as possible. Ahead of the General Affairs Council in December, the UK’s position remains that we do not believe the name issue should be a block to beginning discussions with Macedonia over the negotiating framework for EU accession talks.
Asked by: Simon Kirby (Conservative - Brighton, Kemptown)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his Ukrainian counterpart on the conflict in that country; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by David Lidington
The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Right Hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond) discussed the Ukraine crisis with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin on 11 November and restated the UK's strong support for Ukraine’s government and people.
The Prime Minister, my Right Hon. Friend the member for Witney (Mr Cameron), also discussed the Ukraine crisis with President Poroshenko in the margins of the European Council on 30 August, the NATO Summit on 4 September and at the ASEM meeting in Milan on 17 October.
Asked by: Simon Kirby (Conservative - Brighton, Kemptown)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he is taking steps to promote trade between the UK and other Commonwealth member states; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Lord Swire
I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 21 October 2014 (PQ 210357).
Asked by: Simon Kirby (Conservative - Brighton, Kemptown)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his NATO counterparts about offering a Membership Action Plan for Montenegro; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by David Lidington
The first cycle of Montenegro’s Membership Action Plan was initiated in 2009.
The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Rt Hon Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), together with his counterparts from NATO Allies, met NATO’s aspiring members, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Macedonia and Montenegro, on 4 September 2014 during the NATO Summit in Wales to discuss their progress towards joining the Alliance. The Allies welcomed the significant progress made by Montenegro in its reforms and looked to Montenegro to continue its efforts to address the remaining challenges, particularly with respect to the rule of law and completing security sector reform.
At the Summit, NATO Foreign Ministers agreed to commence ‘intensified and focused talks’ with Montenegro before reassessing their progress no later than December 2015. As a part of this process NATO’s Military Committee visited Montenegro on 27-28 October 2014.
The United Kingdom strongly supports NATO’s Open Door policy on enlargement and welcomes the membership aspirations of all the countries currently seeking to join the Alliance.