Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether she has had recent discussions with her counterpart in Montenegro on a free trade agreement.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Montenegro is a valued trading partner and work continues towards a new Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, which would include commitments on trade.
Asked by: John Howell (Conservative - Henley)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the debate on the report entitled Observation of the early parliamentary elections in Montenegro, which was held at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on 9 October 2023.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
The UK welcomes the Council of Europe (CoE) Parliamentary Assembly's 9 October debate on the observation of the early parliamentary elections in Montenegro. The UK understands the importance of election monitoring. We supported a local Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) to provide early projections of election results, as part of a package of CSSF-funded projects to strengthen election integrity against destabilising influences. We now look forward to government formation and furthering our support for Montenegro to conduct free and fair democratic processes and to strengthen electoral practices in line with Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and CoE recommendations.
Oral Evidence Nov. 29 2023
Inquiry: The UK and the Western BalkansFound: Centre for Advanced Studies Southeast Europe (CAS SEE), University of Rijeka, Women's Rights Centre (Montenegro
Oral Evidence Nov. 29 2023
Inquiry: The UK and the Western BalkansFound: Centre for Advanced Studies Southeast Europe (CAS SEE), University of Rijeka, Women's Rights Centre (Montenegro
Mentions:
1: Alicia Kearns (Con - Rutland and Melton) The resolution is supported by Balkan countries including Croatia, Montenegro, Albania, North Macedonia - Speech Link
2: Alicia Kearns (Con - Rutland and Melton) Yes, we must do that.I had hoped to touch on Montenegro, but I will conclude. - Speech Link
3: Jim Shannon (DUP - Strangford) Serbia; some nationalist Serbs in Montenegro are using media, specifically social networks, to promote - Speech Link
4: Jim Shannon (DUP - Strangford) We must bear in mind that Albania, Montenegro and North Macedonia are our NATO partners. - Speech Link
5: David Rutley (Con - Macclesfield) We welcome the progress that is being made in Montenegro under Prime Minister Spajić, which is geared - Speech Link
Mentions:
1: Mike Freer (Con - Finchley and Golders Green) There are also six signatories (Israel, Costa Rica, Montenegro, North Macedonia, the Russian Federation - Speech Link
Feb. 26 2024
Source Page: UK announces new support to boost British exports and investment in the Western BalkansFound: use the summit at Lancaster House in London – attended by three Western Balkan Prime Ministers from Montenegro
Asked by: Lord Blencathra (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what is their response to the Council of Europe report on the observation of the 2023 presidential election in Montenegro.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK welcomes the Council of Europe's (CoE) Report on the Presidential elections in Montenegro. Election monitoring is a vital tool for promoting and encouraging democracy. The UK contributed to the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) observer mission to Montenegro's Presidential elections. We also supported a local Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) which reported irregularities and broadcast an early results forecast, contributing to the integrity of the election. We will provide ongoing support for electoral reform analysis. The UK will continue to encourage Montenegro to strengthen electoral practices in line with ODIHR and CoE recommendations.
Jan. 16 2008
Source Page: Tables showing initial decisions on asylum applications a) excluding dependents and b) from dependents for each year from 2003 to 2007, broken down by nationality.Found: initial decisions, excluding the outcome of appeals or other subsequent decisions. (4) Serbia and Montenegro
Asked by: Lord Wasserman (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Viscount Younger of Leckie on 26 October (HL10597), in how many countries there is a legal requirement to uprate the UK State Pensions paid to those UK pensioners who live there; and which countries they are.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The UK State Pension is payable worldwide to those who meet the qualifying conditions, without regard to nationality, and the amount is based on an individual’s National Insurance record. UK State Pensions are up-rated overseas only where there is a legal requirement to do so. The Government has no plans to change this policy.
People who live outside the UK will not receive an increase in their State Pension unless they live in:
- an EEA country or Switzerland; or
- a country with which DWP have a reciprocal agreement that allows for it. These countries are:
*Following the break-up of Yugoslavia, the UK agreement with former Yugoslavia now covers Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia.