Parliament's international work
The UK Parliament works closely with other national and international parliaments and is an active member of various international parliamentary assemblies. Some of Parliament’s select committees focus on international matters too.
Foreign parliamentarians regularly visit our Parliament to study policy issues, share ways of working and exchange views. Members of the UK Parliament also make similar visits abroad.
The purpose of this work is to:
- exchange views
- improve understanding on issues of mutual concern
- develop good working relationships
- scrutinise and inform UK policies
Doing these things advances UK interests.
The Speakers
Mr Speaker and the Lord Speaker represent the two Houses to Parliaments of other countries.
Commons Interparliamentary Relations Office
The House of Commons Interparliamentary Relations Office supports incoming visits to the UK Parliament by overseas parliamentarians and parliamentary officials and provides advice and assistance to fellow parliaments on the practices and procedures of the UK Parliament.
It also supports the work of the delegations to the Parliamentary Assemblies of the Council of Europe (PACE), North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO PA) and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE PA), and the UK-EU Parliamentary Partnership Assembly.
The House of Commons Interparliamentary Relations Office publishes a regular newsletter with updates on activities.
Email: ipro@parliament.uk
Commons Interparliamentary engagement strategy
In June 2023, the House of Commons Administration published its first strategy for interparliamentary engagement. Our mission for this work is:
To ensure the House of Commons administration is an active and valued participant in the international, interparliamentary community.
Lords Inter-Parliamentary Relations Office
The Lords Inter-Parliamentary Relations Office is responsible for relations between the House of Lords and overseas parliaments. This includes advising and supporting the Lord Speaker; supporting Lords participation in international conferences; and supporting inward visits of Parliamentarians and officials.
Email: paulz@parliament.uk
UK Parliament Study Programme
The UK Parliament Study Programme is IPRO's knowledge exchange programme for overseas parliamentary officials. It offers participating officials an opportunity to:
- Learn about UK Parliament approaches to procedural and corporate issues.
- Have full and frank exchanges on issues common to all legislatures.
- Establish strong professional links with UK officials and colleagues from participating legislatures.
- Learn about each other’s common challenges.
Find out more on the UK Parliament Study Programme page.
Letters of condolence on the demise of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
The UK Parliament has received many expressions of condolence from overseas parliaments, governments and diplomatic missions following the death of Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Mr Speaker and the Lord Speaker are making these letters available for all to read, so that the public may share in the kindness and respect shown by the international community to the Royal Family and the people of the United Kingdom at this time of great sadness.
View expressions of condolence listed A-Z by country/organisation.
The NATO Parliamentary Assembly has 266 delegates from parliaments of the 29 NATO member states.
The Parliamentary Assembly on the OSCE brings together 323 delegates from 56 parliaments.
The Parliamentary Assembly is the deliberative body and the driving force of the Council of Europe.
The Parliamentary Partnership Assembly was established by the UK-EU Trade and Co-operation Agreement and acts as a forum for the UK Parliament and the European Parliament to exchange views on the partnership.
