NPA, Alm.del - 2020-21 - Bilag 13: Annual Presidential Report 2020

NATO's Parlamentariske Forsamling 2020-21
NPA Alm.del Bilag 13
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In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic compelled the

NATO Parliamentary Assembly to move its

activities online. Throughout the year, lawmakers

connected from Europe, North America and beyond

to discuss the coronavirus crisis and adopt a

range of special policy outputs on the coronavirus

crisis, its impacts, and the way ahead.

In the pandemic’s wake, longstanding challenges

have not subsided. NATO continues adapting to

the future security environment, as it faces

Russia’s ongoing aggressive behaviour, China’s rise,

transformations in the East and the South, rapid

technological change, swelling waves of

disinformation, and continued obstacles to the

Women in Peace and Security agenda. Assembly

members tackled all these challenges in a year

when it had to completely reinvent its

parliamentary diplomacy.

ANNUAL

PRESIDENTIAL

REPORT

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FOREWORD BY THE PRESIDENT

FOREWORD BY THE

SECRETARY GENERAL

2020: REINVENTING

PARLIAMENTARY

DIPLOMACY

IN TIMES OF COVID

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The COVID-19 pandemic, which has gripped the world since early 2020, rocked

the fundamental pillars of the modern way of life. As borders closed one after the

other, the risk heightened that the pandemic would trigger uncoordinated national

responses. With COVID-19 dragging nations into unchartered, literally life-

threatening, territory, it also risked becoming an all-consuming vortex, driving

international attention away from other pressing challenges.

In this unprecedented moment of crisis, it was vital for the NATO Parliamentary

Assembly’s (NATO PA) leadership to ensure that the Assembly continued to

provide a forum for legislators from across Europe and North America, to

exchange both on the response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the full range of

challenges facing the NATO Alliance.

The

Assembly

, a parliamentary organisation independent from but complementary

to the intergovernmental North Atlantic Treaty Organization, needed to fulfil what

has been its mission since 1955: to strengthen the transatlantic bond, promote

shared transatlantic values, and foster greater understanding of NATO policies

among parliamentarians and citizens.

By moving online when it could no longer meet in person, the Assembly reinvented

its tools of parliamentary diplomacy, organising some 30 webinars and other

meetings, including an annual session bringing together close to 250 members

of parliament.

This first-ever digital annual presidential report offers a glimpse into how the

NATO PA’s 269 members tackled today’s and tomorrow’s challenges throughout

2020 and what recommendations they offer to address them as an Alliance.

Naturally, much of the Assembly’s 2020 efforts and recommendations focused on

the multifaceted crisis triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. These are laid out in

this report’s rich section on the Assembly’s response to the

pandemic.

The year 2020 was also a pivotal moment for NATO. The Alliance

engaged in a wide-ranging

reflection process

about ways to

enhance internal cohesion, unity, and adherence to shared values

as well as to prepare for the challenges of the next decade.

Better informing citizens about NATO should be pursued as a

matter of urgency as the Alliance adapts for the next decade,

particularly in an environment characterised by growing

disinformation . The Assembly continued to play its part in this

effort in 2020.

Even before COVID, the Assembly identified the rise of China as a

potential competitor to the West on the global stage as a key

priority issue. This was a central theme of its discussions in 2020,

as was Russia’s ongoing geopolitical challenge and military

modernisation .

In this new age of global competition, the Assembly has highlighted

the vital importance of maintaining NATO’s dominance and

technological edge across old and new domains of warfare .

Two traditional regions of interest for the Assembly – the Eastern

and Southern neighbourhoods – witnessed significant changes and

crises in 2020.

In the Western Balkans, North Macedonia’s accession to NATO in

March offered further demonstration of the vitality and positive

draw of the Alliance’s Open Door policy. While Skopje’s commitment

to reform and political courage allowed it to fulfil its Euro-Atlantic

ambitions, other parts of the region continue to face important

challenges.

Last but not least, 2020 marked the 20th anniversary of the

landmark United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on

Women, Peace and Security . The Assembly seized this opportunity

to both celebrate the many achievements Resolution 1325 has

allowed, while also highlighting where more progress is needed.

The year concluded with hard-fought congressional and presidential

elections in the United States and hopes for a renewed

transatlantic relationship. In turn, the Assembly elected US

Congressman

Gerald E. Connolly

as its new President, along with a

new

Bureau

which, for the first time, includes a majority of women.

Under their leadership, the Assembly is already hard at work making

parliaments’ voices heard on all major challenges facing Allied

nations in 2021.

Ruxandra Popa, Secretary General of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly

“In the unprecedented environment created by the COVID-19 pandemic, the NATO PA has sought to

reinvent parliamentary diplomacy to ensure legislators from across Europe and North America could

exchange both on the response to the COVID-19 crisis and the range of other security challenges

facing

the NATO Alliance.”

Ruxandra Popa, NATO PA Secretary General

Ruxandra Popa (France) took up the position of Secretary General of the NATO

Parliamentary Assembly in January 2020. She rst joined the NATO Parliamentary

Assembly’s International Secretariat in 2005 as Director of the Committee on the

Civil Dimension of Security, before serving as Deputy Secretary General in 2011-

2019.

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CONTENTS

COVID-19

NATO 2030

CHINA

RUSSIA

THE EASTERN

NEIGHBOURHOOD

THE MIDDLE

EAST & AFRICA

NATO'S

MILITARY EDGE

NATO'S

OPEN DOOR

THE AGE OF

DISINFORMATION

WOMEN IN

PEACE &

SECURITY

PARTNERSHIP

WITH

SWITZERLAND

BUDGET &

FINANCES

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THE ASSEMBLY

A GLANCE

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COVID-19:

ALLIED SOLIDARITY &

ASSEMBLY ADAPTATION IN THE

FACE OF A GLOBAL SHOCK

The COVID-19 pandemic is the most disruptive global event

since World War II. Still raging, its path of destruction is

readily apparent. Over two million people have died and

many more have suffered. The global economy has been

thrown into turmoil. And public resources and social

cohesion have come under severe strain.

The Alliance reacted swiftly and effectively to play its part

to mitigate the pandemic’s impact. NATO facilitated

hundreds of missions to assist public health efforts and

other crisis-related tasks. Over half a million Allied military

personnel have supported national response to COVID-19

so far.

Unable to meet in person, the Assembly quickly turned to

online meetings to offer members a platform to exchange

on the coronavirus crisis as well as on other threats and

challenges to transatlantic security. Moreover, a range of

special policy outputs

tackled the pandemic, its impacts,

and the way ahead.

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UNDERSTANDING THE MULTIFACETED

IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 CRISIS

KEEP READING

THE ASSEMBLY ADAPTS

AND GOES VIRTUAL

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UNDERSTANDING THE MULTIFACETED

IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 CRISIS

Upon the initiative of then President

Attila Mesterhazy

(Hungary), all five

Assembly Committees and the

Mediterranean and Middle East

Special Group produced special

studies on the COVID-19 pandemic.

The then President himself drafted

a report on

NATO’s Essential Role in

the COVID-19 Pandemic.

highlights how Allied forces

mitigated some of the immediate

impact by coordinating the

emergency supply of medical

equipment and personnel. At the

same time, these efforts “never

detracted from the Alliance’s ability

to deliver credible and effective

deterrence.” He urges Allies to

pursue continued burden sharing

and defence investments in the

post-pandemic era. Allied forces not

only proved key during Allies’ hours

of greatest need but also face an

increasingly challenging international

security environment.

"COVID-19 has taught us

important lessons about our

ability to sustain major

global shocks – as societies

and as an international

community."

Attila Mesterhazy (Hungary)

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The critical importance of NATO’s

Science and Technology (S&T)

network is highlighted in the special

report

COVID-19, International Security,

and the Importance of NATO’S Science

and Technology Network

Kevan

Jones

(United Kingdom). “With its pool

of defence scientists, engineers, and

analysts – the largest such network in

the world – NATO can play a major role

in finding scientific and medical

solutions to defeat the current

pandemic and to help prepare for

future crises,” he notes. “A major

impediment to a rapid and efficient

pandemic response has been the

continued underinvestment in vaccine

research and development,” Mr Jones

argues and calls for Allies to increase

resources and use the NATO S&T

network more effectively.

Lord Campbell of Pittenweem

(United

Kingdom) focuses on COVID-19’s

impact on globalisation and evolving

great power competition in his report

COVID-19 and Transatlantic Security.

He argues that “The post-COVID global

security environment is likely to be

more adversarial and characterised by

increased geopolitical competition.” He

urges the Alliance to adapt and to use

this experience to further strengthen

cohesion and the transatlantic link.

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The Impact of the COVID-19 Crisis on

the Civil Dimension of Security, Joëlle

Garriaud-Maylam

(France) notes that

“fundamental freedoms and democratic

principles, access to verified and

unmanipulated information, migration,

women's rights, and participation, as well

as the protection and education of

children, are all at the core of this crisis.”

A key challenge is Russia’s and China’s

disinformation and propaganda campaigns

to promote their own governance models

as more effective at crisis response than

democracies.

Christian Tybring-Gjedde

(Norway) utters dire

warnings in

The Economic Consequences of

the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The pandemic “has

effectively put a sudden stop to entire

categories of human and economic activity,” he

writes. The report’s recommendations formed

the basis of an Assembly

resolution

on the

crisis. In it, the NATO PA urges states to build

stronger defences against future pandemics by

better shielding economies, intensifying

international cooperation, and avoiding

overdependence on ‘strategic rivals’ such as

China. “Failing to hedge against the likelihood

of future pandemics could be catastrophic,”

the resolution warns.

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In his report

The COVID-19 Pandemic and the

Middle East and North Africa Region, Gilbert

Roger

(France) reminds Assembly members of

the wide-ranging impact of the pandemic in

the region. He warns that the ongoing crisis

could reignite public anger if governments fail

to get ahead of the pandemic and manage its

consequences effectively. The potential

humanitarian and security consequences of

pandemic-related instability, he warns, “would

be grave and would pose an immediate

challenge to trans-Atlantic security interests.”

THE ASSEMBLY ADAPTS

AND GOES VIRTUAL

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THE ASSEMBLY ADAPTS AND

GOES VIRTUAL

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Before the first wave of the pandemic hit Europe and North

America, the Assembly could only conduct six in-person

meetings. Bar one election observation mission to Georgia,

members were unable to meet physically, including for its two

biggest events of the year – the spring and annual sessions.

Convinced that close coordination among parliaments is

essential to democratic, effective and coherent policy

responses to the COVID-19 crisis, Assembly leaders deployed

a range of tools:

A special webinar series allowed Allied and partner

legislators to share experiences, best practices and

absorb lessons to deal with the immediate crisis and

better prepare for the future.

Then President Mesterhazy issued frequent statements

and updates to delegations and maintained regular

communication with the NATO Secretary General and

Deputy Secretary General.

Delegations were surveyed about the initial lessons

identified from the crisis and its impact on national

defence plans.

Many heads of delegation to the NATO PA provided their

views on the crisis, including on the role of

parliamentarians and interparliamentary diplomacy.

Despite this unprecedented crisis, it was essential that the

Assembly continued to address the other critical challenges

the transatlantic Alliance faces. These challenges had not

disappeared in 2020 and sometimes worsened. Through some

30 online meetings, the NATO PA continued to offer a

platform for its members to exchange on these priorities.

Most importantly, the holding of the

66th annual session

in a

virtual format enabled the Assembly to successfully deliver

upon its 2020 political priorities, adopt important

policy

recommendations

on the main challenges facing Europe and

North America, and elect its

new leadership.

As then President

Mesterhazy stressed, “With this session, we demonstrate

that, no matter the setting, the NATO Parliamentary Assembly

provides an essential forum for open and frank political

dialogue on transatlantic security .”

ONLINE ANNUAL SESSION PLAYLIST

Photo courtesy of NATO

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NATO 2030: ADAPTING NATO FOR THE NEXT DECADE

For over 70 years, NATO has served as the bedrock of Europe and North America’s security. Its ability to adapt has proven a

key reason for its success and enduring relevance. Throughout the major geopolitical shifts since 1949, NATO has provided

an irreplaceable platform for consultation, collective defence, and joint action.

At the end of 2019, concerns grew about a number of challenges such as

China’s rise,

the emergence of

disruptive

technologies,

and internal strains among Allies. Meeting in London in December 2019, Allied leaders therefore launched the

next phase of NATO adaptation. They asked the NATO Secretary General to lead “a forward-looking reflection process […] to

further strengthen NATO’s political dimension including consultation”. Throughout 2020, the Assembly actively supported

this process – now known as

NATO 2030

– and contributed to it with its own recommendations.

NATO 2030: THE ASSEMBLY’S 2020 INPUT

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WINTER - SPRING

SUMMER

AUTUMN

EXPLOR E

NATO 2030:

A MORE UNITED AND STRONGER ALLIANCE ON THE GLOBAL STAGE

The Assembly’s principal policy output on NATO 2030 –

Declaration 460

– clearly lays out the Assembly’s

recommendations on how to adapt NATO for the next decade.

EUROPE AND NORTH AMERICA UNITED AROUND

SHARED TRANSATLANTIC VALUES

To secure the foundations of the Alliance, the

Assembly emphatically calls for “rededicat[ing] the

Alliance to the shared democratic values that

constitute its founding principles”. As a concrete

measure, in 2019, the Assembly already

proposed

the establishment, within NATO, of a Centre of

Excellence for Democratic Resilience to assist Allies

and partners in the strengthening of democratic

institutions. To prevent and address potential

differences among Allies, the Assembly calls on them

“to increase the scope and frequency of political

consultation and develop a range of tools to

facilitate the convergence of views”. Strengthening

the transatlantic bond should be a constant priority.

In particular, Allies must maintain defence spending

efforts and better share the burdens and

responsibilities for defence, as recommended also in

the Defence and Security Committee’s

resolution.

AN ALLIANCE FIT TO ADDRESS EVOLVING

THREATS AND CHALLENGES AT 360˚

To face the evolving threats and challenges, the

Assembly calls on Allies to update the 2010 NATO

Strategic Concept – the Alliance’s guiding strategic

document. Among others, the updated Strategic

Concept must affirm NATO’s policy of deterrence and

dialogue towards

Russia,

enshrine NATO’s 360˚

approach to challenges, and reinforce its framework

for safeguarding its

military edge

across old and new

domains of warfare. For the first time, NATO should

also lay out a common approach to the rise of China.

Echoing the calls of the Political Committee’s

resolution,

this common approach should include

enhancing Allies’ understanding of security dynamics

in the Indo-Pacific and developing cooperation with

partners in the region and with the European Union.

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AN ALLIANCE WITH A GLOBAL VOICE AND BROAD NETWORK OF PARTNERS

To enhance NATO’s global approach, the Assembly’s declaration “emphasise[s] NATO’s [...] role in safeguarding the

rules-based international order and urges Allies to expand cooperation with relevant global and regional

organisations.” Building on the Political Committee’s

report

NATO-EU relations, the declaration urges NATO and

the European Union, in particular, to continue to enhance their strategic partnership.

NATO 2030: NEXT STEPS

At the end of November the Group of Experts issued their report,

NATO 2030 : United for a New Era

– one of a

number of inputs into the NATO Secretary General’s NATO 2030 initiative. The report by the independent group

incorporates a significant number of recommendations put forward by the Assembly, including the call to update

NATO’s Strategic Concept, to establish a Centre of Excellence on Democratic Resilience, to agree a common

strategy on China, and to create a NATO scholarship to support youth engagement. It also recognises the

Assembly’s essential role as a “force multiplier” for public engagement.

Ahead of the 2021 meeting of Allied leaders, the NATO Secretary General will develop his own NATO 2030

recommendations. The new Assembly President Gerald E. Connolly (United States) has made it a top priority for

the Assembly to provide continued input into this process.

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"NATO 2030 is a timely and important opportunity to

outline a vision for NATO’s future. And our Assembly is

particularly well placed to help shape this vision and, more

importantly, to help turn it into reality."

Attila Mesterhazy, NATO PA President

(December 2019-November 2020),

at the online Annual Session, 23 November 2020

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CHINA’S RISE:

IMPLICATIONS FOR EURO-ATLANTIC SECURITY

The rapid rise of the People’s Republic of China represents a paradigm shift in global affairs with important consequences for Euro-Atlantic security.

The Assembly has long acknowledged the growing impact of China’s rise. However, it was only at the

NATO Leaders’ meeting

in London in

December 2019 that they broke the unofficial taboo and put China on NATO’s agenda, recognising that “China’s growing influence and international

policies present both opportunities and challenges that we need to address together as an Alliance.”

As a coherent Allied China strategy has yet to be forged, the Assembly put a spotlight on the issue, notably with three comprehensive reports. The

key takeaway is the Assembly’s call to address the challenges posed by China collectively – without ever compromising the core values on which

both the global liberal order and NATO were founded.

TACKLING CHINA’S RISE: A PRESIDENTIAL PRIORITY

Guiding the Assembly through most of 2020, then President

Attila

Mesterhazy

(Hungary) identified tackling China’s challenge as one of

his key priorities. “China has similar geopolitical ambitions as Russia

but a smarter and more effective approach,” he argues. “We can no

longer afford to be naïve about its ambitions and role,” he stresses,

calling for Allies to “embrace a clear-eyed, shared response to

China’s rise and global ambitions.”

Likewise, current President

Gerald E. Connolly

(United States) has

underlined that “China, like Russia, does not share the same values

as NATO Allies. Both countries seek to undermine the international

rules-based order that NATO countries helped build and which

supports stability and certainty in the international system.” He

calls for NATO to face the China challenge head on, but, at the

same time, underlines “scope for dialogue” exists.

“The Alliance is at a crossroads. Are we to step aside, and ignore China’s potential

threat to our democratic community? Or are we to step up and assert ourselves

with respect to China’s increasing encroachments?”

Gerald E. Connolly, NATO PA

President

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FACING THE GEOPOLITICAL CHALLENGE

The Rise of China: Implications for Global and Euro-Atlantic Security,

Mr Connolly warns that “In recent years Beijing’s foreign policy has become much

more assertive […] by aggressively exploiting its growing economic and military strength.” He also presented a

resolution

encapsulating the Assembly’s overall

recommendations on a transatlantic strategy towards China. As the Assembly’s

declaration

on NATO 2030 makes clear, adapting to a world of systemic

competition with China and Russia should be a key priority for NATO.

A transatlantic strategy on China: key Assembly proposals

CHINA AND THE INTERNATIONAL RULES-

BASED ORDER

In a report on

China and the Global Liberal Order,

Lord Jopling

(United Kingdom) homes in on

China’s challenge to the global liberal world order.

He cites the new security law in Hong Kong, the

crackdown on free speech and ethnic minorities,

and the consolidation of power around President

Xi Jinping as evidence that Beijing does not

intend to abide by liberal norms. “Our nations

must speak as one to draw attention to those

actions undertaken by Beijing, at home and

abroad, which are unacceptable and contravene

global liberal norms”, Lord Jopling writes.

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THE ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS OF CHINA’S

GROWING INFLUENCE

In a third report, on

China’s Belt and Road Initiative: A

Strategic and Economic Assessment, Christian

Tybring-Gjedde

(Norway) examines “perhaps the

most ambitious investment and infrastructure

programme ever conceived.” Mr Tybring-Gjedde warns

that the project “risks making participating

countries more financially, economically, and

strategically dependent” – including NATO Allies. For

instance, through the Belt and Road Initiative, China

has secured greater port access, which is likely to

enhance Beijing’s capacity to project maritime power.

He also discusses concerns about overreliance on

Chinese technology in sensitive sectors such as 5G

telecommunications. He calls for mobilisation of

Western financial and technological assets to

ensure that “democracies and not authoritarian

societies are at the helm of this paradigm-changing

industrial revolution”.

COVID-19 AND CHINA’S DISINFORMATION CAMPAIGN

A series of

Assembly reports

dedicated to the

implications of the COVID-19 pandemic also examined

how China emerged as a new actor in global

disinformation, next to Russia. In a report on

The Impact

of The Covid-19 Crisis on The Civil Dimension of Security,

Joëlle Garriaud-Maylam

(France) notes that the aim of

Beijing’s disinformation campaign was to “distract

attention from the initial disastrous response of its

authorities to a pandemic that originated within its

territory.” More worryingly, it also aims “to bolster China's

authoritarian model of governance to the detriment of

the liberal values that form the bedrock of the Alliance

and our democracies” and to “cast a shadow in the

media and on the internet over the much more

substantial solidarity that was and that is still being

shown by the Allies throughout this health emergency.”

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RUSSIA’S CHALLENGE INTENSIFIES AND EVOLVES

The challenge from Russia NATO Allies must confront intensified and evolved over the course of 2020. Russia continues to pursue

aggressive policies and actions, employing all levers of power –diplomatic, information, military, and economic. But it increasingly relies on

hybrid asymmetric tools such as election interference, cyber espionage and attacks as well as poisoning of opponents. As such, Russia

remains the chief threat facing Allies, and Assembly members explored elements of this threat extensively throughout 2020.

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RUSSIAN MILITARY MODERNISATION

An increasingly aggressive foreign policy, backed by the threat

of a capable modern military, remains at the core of Russia’s

multifaceted challenge. Moscow’s military modernisation –

and its implications for Allied security in the Euro-Atlantic

area and beyond – was the focus in

Cédric Perrin’s Russian

Military Modernisation: Challenges Ahead for NATO Allies.

The French Senator focused not only on equipment

modernisation but also on doctrinal and organisational

reforms to create a military capable of acting according to

Moscow’s understanding of global security. Russia has been,

at least partly, successful at reaching established targets, Mr

Perrin argues. He thus warns his colleagues “to avoid

complacency” in their assessment of Russia’s ability to

sustain an assertive political-military policy.

ATTEMPTS TO DOMINATE THE BLACK SEA

Russia’s efforts to disrupt what it calls its “near abroad”

featured prominently in

The Black Sea Region: Economic and

Geo-Political Tensions.

Ausrine Armonaite (Lithuania) warns

of increasing threats to freedom of navigation in the Black

Sea. After Russia’s illegal annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea

peninsula, the Kremlin has increased the peninsula’s

militarisation as part of a broader strategy of anti

access/area denial. Ms Armonaite strongly recommends Allies

“to reinforce deterrence in the region to protect Allied littoral

states”. Moreover, she calls upon NATO “to enhance support

for key partners like Georgia and Ukraine which, in turn, need

to remain focused on genuine democratic reform.”

DISINFORMATION IN COVID-19 TIMES

As the COVID-19 pandemic began to take hold, Russia stepped up its disinformation campaign in a cynical attempt to undermine Allied populations’

confidence in their governments’ responses. These attempts have underscored the degree to which Moscow is leaning on new hybrid tools to

challenge Allied unity. All five Committee’s

COVID-19 special reports

touch upon this targeted disinformation campaign.

CONTINUED REPRESSION AT HOME

At home, Russia continued to follow a playbook of ruthless repression. In September, it used banned military-grade nerve agent, once again, in an

attempt to silence an opponent, poisoning Alexei Navalny. In a

statement,

then Assembly President Mesterhazy sharply condemned the attack and

called for those responsible to “be held accountable for this heinous attack with a weapon prohibited under international law.” With the sentencing

of Mr Navalny in an unlawful and arbitrary way in early 2021, which the Assembly President

strongly condemned,

the Assembly will certainly follow

this issue closely.

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UNDERMINING ARMS CONTROL

Russia’s recent behaviour has also put a stop to five

decades of arms control treaties in the Euro-Atlantic area.

2019 witnessed the demise of the Intermediate-Range

Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, and 2020 likely initiated the

end of the Open Skies Treaty.

In May 2020, Russia’s long-standing selective

implementation and misuse of the

Open Skies Treaty

led

the United States to declare Russia in violation and

announce its intention to withdraw. In a statement, then

NATO PA President

Attila Mesterhazy

(Hungary) outlined

its transgressions and called for “Russia to urgently return

to full compliance”.

Russia’s recent actions have increasingly left Allies

without a reliable partner in arms control. Nevertheless,

now US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Alexandra

Bell told Assembly members at a December

webinar on

arms control

that “treaties, structures and agreements

created over the past half-century are bending, breaking,

and collapsing[…]but arms control is not dead.”

Looking ahead, there may be room for optimism after the

extension of the New START Treaty, the sole remaining

treaty limiting US and Russian strategic forces.

“Russia continues to forcibly and illegally occupy Crimea and portions of

eastern Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova. And Putin’s military apparatus

actively seeks to undermine or disrupt democratic elections and

institutions throughout the trans-Atlantic alliance. We must and will

meet these threats forcibly.”

Gerald E. Connolly, NATO PA President

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CRISES AND ONGOING

CHALLENGES IN THE

EASTERN

NEIGHBOURHOOD

Over the course of 2020, political crises in Belarus and

Georgia and armed conflict between Armenia and

Azerbaijan highlighted the ongoing fragility in the

Alliance’s Eastern neighbourhood. As Russia continues to

be a key (f)actor in this instability, NATO supports

democratic reform, good neighbourly relations, the

peaceful resolution of conflict and the right of all nations

to choose their foreign policy course.

BELARUS IN CRISIS

The rigged presidential election in

Belarus in August 2020 triggered the

largest and longest protests in the

country’s recent history. Then NATO PA

President

Attila Mesterhazy

(Hungary)

condemned

the regime’s repression,

noting that “[g]ruesome violations of

human rights have no place in the

Europe of the 21st century”. In a call

with NATO Secretary General Jens

Stoltenberg, he also

denounced

attempts to manufacture an alleged

threat from NATO as a pretext to

crack down on peaceful protest.

Opposition

candidate

Sviatlana

Tsikhanouskaya was forced into exile

in Lithuania, from where she claimed

victory – a claim supported by several

Western governments. Then Vice-

President

Dr Karl A. Lamers

met with

Ms Tsikhanouskaya on a private visit to

Vilnius in August.

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At a

special webinar

in September, Assembly members examined the

possible ways out of the crisis as well as Russia’s role in support of

the Belarusian regime. President Mesterhazy stressed that “this is the

struggle of the Belarusian people. No one can fight it for them, and no

one should interfere with their struggle.”

The Assembly suspended its relations with Belarus in 1997 in light of

democratic backsliding in that country. It has since continued to

monitor the political situation in the country and maintained relations

with representatives of the Belarusian opposition and civil society.

TURMOIL IN THE SOUTH CAUCASUS

In the autumn of 2020, after months of escalation,

Armenia and Azerbaijan engaged in a deadly armed

confrontation in and around Nagorno-Karabakh which

sent shockwaves across the region and redefined

the regional balance of power. The Assembly

President issued

statements

condemning the

violence, and the Assembly reviewed developments in

the region in two webinars in

October

and

November.

While NATO has no role in the resolution of the

conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, both Armenia and

Azerbaijan are NATO and NATO PA partners and, as

such, committed to good neighbourly relations and

the peaceful resolution of conflicts.

Georgia

began and ended 2020 with serious political

crises. Throughout a troubled year, both the outgoing

and the new President urged the majority and the

opposition to work together to resolve their

differences. Despite concerns about domestic

political instability, the NATO PA continues to

support Georgia’s democracy and that country’s

aspirations for Euro-Atlantic integration. It also

closely monitors Russia’s aggression and its

occupation of the regions of South Ossetia and

Abkhazia in Georgia.

BLACK SEA SECURITY

In her report on

The Black Sea Region: Economic and

Geopolitical Tensions,

Ausrine Armonaite (Lithuania)

condemns Russia’s illegal occupation of Georgia’s

South Ossetia and Abkhazia regions, its illegal

annexation of Crimea and ongoing aggression

against Ukraine. The report highlights Russia’s

expanded military presence in the Black Sea as a

way “to intimidate the countries of the region and to

project power both in the Eastern Mediterranean

and, at least indirectly, in the Levant”.

Ms Armonaite calls on Allied governments to

maintain sanctions on Russia. “NATO needs to

reinforce deterrence in the region to protect allied

littoral states” and to “enhance support for key

partners like Georgia and Ukraine which, in turn, need

to remain focused on genuine democratic reform”,

she stresses.

“Russia [...] apparently judges it better to have border lands

paralysed by tension, frozen con icts, and con ict than to live

alongside autonomous, prosperous, and con dent states enjoying

good neighbourly relations.”

Ausrine Armonaite (Lithuania)

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EXPANDING NATO’S ASSISTANCE

Ms Armonaite’s call echoes that of

Lara Martinho

(Portugal) in her report on

NATO’s Defence and

Related Security Capacity Building (DCB) Initiative

expand cooperation with Georgia and include Ukraine

in the DCB initiative. NATO should also continue to

engage with the Republic of Moldova and other DCB

countries, Ms Martinho writes. The programme

assists select partners to make their defense

institutions and armed forces stronger, more capable

and resilient. Ms Martinho also calls for greater

synergies between Allies’ bilateral security

assistance and NATO’s DCB initiative as well as

between NATO and the NATO PA’s assistance. “The

NATO PA has the capacity and the experience to

work with NATO DCB recipient nations’ parliaments

as they seek to learn best practices about the

oversight of their armed forces”, she argues. “From

procurement to recruitment to deployment, the

democratic control of the armed forces is essential

to define and defend national interests and to

manage limited national resources as efficiently as

possible.”

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THE MIDDLE EAST AND

AFRICA: GEOPOLITICAL

SHIFTS AMID A PANDEMIC

The NATO PA maintains a strong emphasis on

political, economic, and strategic developments in

the Middle East and Africa, as the Euro-Atlantic

community’s security, prosperity, and stability are

directly linked to developments in these regions.

TOWARDS MORE AND DEEPER PARTNERSHIPS

With the Mediterranean Dialogue and Istanbul Cooperation Initiative, NATO has long standing, effective frameworks for cooperation with the Middle

East and North Africa. However, Assembly lawmakers agree that NATO should go further.

In the Assembly’s

NATO 2030 declaration,

they urge NATO to enhance its tool box and broaden the network of partners, including institutions such

as the African Union, the Arab League, and the Gulf Cooperation Council. Notably, the Assembly calls for strengthened “support to stability and

defence and related security capacity building in the partner countries on the southern shore of the Mediterranean Sea and in the sub-Saharan area

[…] and stand ready to support selected partners upon request”.

A CHANGING GULF REGION

In 2020, the Assembly’s work had a strong focus on the dynamic changes underway in the Gulf region.

Ahmet Yildiz

(Turkey) penned a

report on

Security and Political

Dynamics in the Gulf.

examines the region’s fault lines,

notably the rivalry between Saudi

Arabia and Iran; the implications

of Iran’s aggressive interventions

in the region; the contentious

rivalry between Qatar and other

Gulf states; and the ongoing

wars in Yemen and Syria.

In another in-depth report,

Faik

Oztrak

(Turkey) focuses on

The

Gulf Crisis and Global Energy

Markets.

Global

energy

developments,

including

precipitously falling oil and gas

revenues and renewable energy

trends, will have lasting impacts

on the region, Mr Oztrak

stresses. He also assesses how

non-energy related developments

interact with regional economic

and political developments.

Both reports provide an initial analysis of the highly consequential reconciliation between several Gulf Monarchies and Israel.

Mr Yildiz notes that the dialogue between NATO and Gulf countries has improved significantly in recent years. He calls for further steps, but

stresses that “NATO’s involvement in the Gulf region must be carefully calibrated, given the regional sensitivities and divergencies.” He also

underlines that Allies cannot overlook human rights problems requiring strong international reactions, notably the murder of Jamal Khashoggi.

Mr Oztrak likewise urges a more proactive approach. In particular, he suggests that “Europe and the United States should work together to

lower tensions in the Gulf”.

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CHALLENGES IN THE

SAHEL REGION

In recent years, the

Assembly has increased

its attention to the

worrying

security

situation in the highly

fragile Sahel region.

In 2020, a report by

Ahmet Conkar

(Turkey) explores the

Development

and Security Challenges in the Sahel

Region.

Social and political tensions

in the Sahel have increased

manyfold because of, inter alia,

economic, political, and social

fragility, climate change, terrorism,

mass migration, and the global

pandemic. Indeed, the Sahel faces

“a perfect storm in which insecurity

and poverty become mutually

reinforcing”, Mr Conkar writes.

These developments pose daunting

security challenges not only for the

Sahel but also for the whole

Mediterranean region. “It is up to the

countries of the Sahel to restore

the bond of trust with their

populations,” he writes, but “NATO

itself should not shy away from

looking closer at this regional hot

spot and explore ways how to

support international efforts in the

Sahel in close consultation and

cooperation with the countries in

the region.”

A FOCUS ON LIBYA

In 2020, Libya continued

to pose a unique set of

security challenges to

the

broader

Mediterranean region and

even became a source of

tension among Allies.

Throughout, then President

Attila

Mesterhazy

(Hungary) encouraged

open and frank dialogue on these

issues, issuing a

statement

on the

situation in Libya and NATO’s role.

Notably, a meeting on 8 July

provided an opportunity for members

to exchange views on the situation

in Libya and NATO’s role in support

of the UN-led process, UN arms

embargo, and the Berlin process.

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THE IMPACT OF COVID-19

While much of the Middle

East and North Africa initially

managed to avoid large-scale

COVID-19 outbreaks, the

pandemic has since gripped

the region.

Gilbert Roger

(France) writes in

his report on

The COVID-19

Pandemic and the Middle East and

North Africa Region,

by late summer,

“an epidemiological crisis had struck

many of the countries of the region

and the outlook has worsened both

on the medical and economic

fronts.” Hit by a pandemic-driven

global recession, national economies

have been upended, with important

implications for regional stability, he

writes. Mr Roger warns “This is not

simply a humanitarian challenge; it

poses a genuine risk to social and

political stability.”

"The [Covid-19] crisis has hit a more

economically and politically fragile region:

weakened by economic stagnation, unstable

energy prices, wars, civil unrest, the in ux

of refugees and displaced persons and the

growing challenges of climate change. The

MENA region is therefore highly vulnerable."

Gilbert Roger (France)

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MAINTAINING NATO’S MILITARY EDGE

FOR CHALLENGES OLD AND NEW

For several years now, NATO PA lawmakers have

warned about the growing speed of technological

change and the need for the Alliance to retain its

military edge and lead efforts to regulate the military

uses of new technologies. As NATO looks to 2030 and

adapts to an increasingly competitive international

environment, leading the technological race becomes

even more urgent.

Photo credit: Courtesy of NATO

THE CHALLENGE OF COMPETITION, DISRUPTION AND ACCESSIBILITY

In her report on

Defence Innovation,

Canadian lawmaker

Leona Alleslev

issues the stark warning that “NATO’s technological edge is eroding

rapidly while peer competitors augment their defence innovation

efforts”.

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French lawmaker

Cedric Perrin

highlights certain Russian advances in

his report on

Russian Military Modernisation: Challenges Ahead for

NATO Allies.

Thus, Moscow’s electronic warfare capabilities surpass

some Allied capabilities. “Russia’s power to disrupt the existing global

order is growing,” Perrin warns, adding that Moscow “will continue to

use its newfound power to try to reshape the international system to

suit Russian interests.” He outlines how Russia seeks to graft modern

technology and methods on legacy structures; to fit US/Western

military tools within Russia’s military concept; and to develop

asymmetric means to counter capabilities Russia cannot match.

At the same time, “the Allies should prepare for an increasingly

assertive, if not aggressive, China – in terms of economic and military

power, as well as technological leadership and cultural reach” warns

now

President Gerald E. Connolly.

His report on

The Rise of China:

Implications for Global and Euro-Atlantic Security

alerts that “China’s

unrelenting rise has threatened to upend the geopolitical landscape of

the twenty-first century”.

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Both Moscow and Beijing are investing heavily in new, potentially

transformative technologies. Former Congresswoman Susan Davis

(United States) argues in her report

Hypersonic Weapons: A

Technological Challenge for Allied Nations and NATO

that the Alliance

“cannot afford to ignore the hypersonic progress of Russia, China, and

other nations” because “[h]ypersonic weapons could, if unmatched,

provide an adversary with the means to coerce NATO Allies and

partners in times of crisis.” Ms Davis stresses that, while NATO does

not want to engage in a new arms race, it needs to evaluate the

implications of this new weapon type for NATO’s deterrence and

defence posture.

Leveraging new technologies has become essential. In his report

Urban

Warfare, Philippe Michel-Kleisbauer

notes that “It is indispensable that

the Allies promote the development of new technologies that improve

situational awareness and command and control” in the increasingly

important urban theatre. Robotics, autonomous weapons and

augmented or virtual reality can improve force protection and combat

effectiveness and ensure protection of civilians, he argued.

A key challenge is the wide

accessibility of new technologies.

“The innovation landscape is now

very different from the time when

the Alliance was founded”, writes

Ms Alleslev. She warns that “the

easy availability of commercial and

dual-use

technology

allows

malignant

non-state

actors,

including terrorist and extremist

militant

groups,

rapidly

weaponise these technologies.”

“Our adversaries are increasingly exible

and agile, leveraging their technological

assets to generate chaos, destruction and

disruption within NATO’s ranks [...]. Cutting

defence spending during this pivotal period

would be a severe mistake.”

Leona Alleslev (Canada)

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INVESTING IN NATO’S EDGE: UNITY, RESOURCES AND COOPERATION

In their recommendations on

NATO 2030,

NATO parliamentarians urge Allied leaders “to step up investment and Allied collaboration in defence

science, technology, research and development to maintain NATO’s scientific and technological edge, especially in emerging and disruptive

technologies and new domains of warfare, consistent with Allies’ international obligations”.

“The good news is that NATO nations are, on aggregate, second-to-none in research and technology” affirms Ms Alleslev. “NATO Allies need new and

better ways to leverage the creative potential of their research institutes, technology companies, and scientists”, she urges. Assembly rapporteurs

generally agree that NATO’s Science and Technology Organization (STO) can help foster advances in the Alliance.

Assembly members also agree on making unity their first line of defence to meet old and new challenges and protect the very values and

institutions Allies hold most dear.

Investing in capabilities is another key priority. The resolutions, which Ms Alleslev and Mr Perrin authored, as well as the Assembly’s declaration on

NATO 2030, stress the need for NATO Allies to maintain, and even surpass, the current commitment to spend at least 2% of GDP on defence, of

which 20% should be dedicated to major equipment investments. “Through continued investment into the Alliance’s modern armed forces, Allies will

present a common credible defensive front capable of maintaining the Alliance’s leading edge in defence and deterrence,” states Mr Perrin, adding

that “financial pressures stemming from the COVID-19 crisis should not weaken commitments […] at this time of heightened international

tension”.

Mr Michel-Kleisbauer also urges Allies to find common approaches to ethical and legal issues related to the military applications of AI and

autonomous systems. That could lead to the adoption of internationally binding standards and help prevent proliferation.

On this and other aspects of technology, Allies can benefit from enhancing cooperation with key partners, as the visit of the Sub-Committee on

Technological Trends and Security to

Sweden

highlighted.

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NATO’S OPEN DOOR POLICY:

CELEBRATING MILESTONES,

CONFRONTING CHALLENGES

The NATO Parliamentary Assembly remains steadfast in its

commitment to the Alliance’s long-standing Open Door

policy. In 2020, NATO and the Assembly celebrated a

number of milestones. However, NATO aspirants continued

to face internal and external challenges, including Russian

occupation of parts of their territories and outside

meddling undermining their democracies.

The Assembly’s

NATO 2030 declaration

urges Allies “to

reaffirm their commitment to NATO’s Open Door policy [...],

to support the Euro-Atlantic integration of Bosnia and

Herzegovina, Georgia, and Ukraine, and to help strengthen

their resilience against foreign interference.”

Photo courtesy of NATO

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NORTH MACEDONIA: NATO’S 30th MEMBER

In March, the Republic of North Macedonia became the 30th member of NATO and the NATO PA.

Addressing its parliament

in February after the historic vote

to ratify the North Atlantic Treaty, then President

Attila Mesterhazy

(Hungary) stressed that “You have truly earned your place through determination and

active commitment to Euro-Atlantic security. […] Your 29 friends and Allies will stand by you and have your back no matter what."

“It is clear the people in the Western Balkans look to the Euro-Atlantic institutions for their future […] It is equally clear that it is [...] in the common interest of NATO and the EU, to anchor the

Western Balkans rmly into our Euro-Atlantic community of nations.”

Attila Mesterhazy (Hungary)

Photo courtesy of the Parliament of North Macedonia

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

Invited to join NATO’s Membership Action Plan (MAP) in 2010, Bosnia and

Herzegovina’s progress has remained deadlocked ever since.

In his report

Key Challenges to Maintaining Peace and Security in the

Western Balkans, Jean-Charles Larsonneur

(France) examines the Euro-

Atlantic engagement in Bosnia and Herzegovina and NATO’s commitment to

long-term peace and stability in the country. As the country must pursue

further reforms, Mr Larsonneur suggests “it is time for the international

community to work with the three constituent peoples of [Bosnia and

Herzegovina] to help the country get out of the political impasse that

results from the current constitution.”

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In November, Allied legislators also held an online

Rose-Roth

webinar

to discuss progress towards Euro-Atlantic integration in the

Western Balkans. Much of the discussion focused on overcoming

the political stalemate in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

UKRAINE

In June 2020, Ukraine lifted its Euro-Atlantic integration process to a new level by becoming one of NATO’s Enhanced Opportunities Partners. President

Mesterhazy strongly

welcomed

the decision and noted that “Ukraine will now be able to further develop the interoperability of its armed forces with those of

NATO.”

The Ukraine-NATO Interparliamentary Council

(UNIC), the Assembly’s dedicated forum for cooperation with Ukraine, met in Brussels in

January

and online in

July.

Members took stock of NATO-Ukraine relations and reaffirmed the Assembly’s support for Ukraine and its Euro Atlantic aspirations. In January, the

Assembly also organised a training programme for the new Ukrainian parliamentary delegation on defence and security issues.

In her report

The Black Sea Region: Economic and Geo-Political Tensions,

Ausrine Armonaite (Lithuania) also calls on NATO to enhance support for Ukraine

which, in turn, must remain focused on genuine democratic and market reforms.

In 2020, the Assembly and the Ukrainian delegation had also looked forward to holding the NATO PA’s spring session in Kyiv. However, the COVID-19 pandemic

prevented

this. Instead, the NATO PA will gather in Kyiv in 2022 to hold its first-ever session in the country.

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GEORGIA

Georgia began and ended 2020 in serious political crises.

In March, after months of negotiations, the government and opposition in Georgia came together in a political agreement paving the way for important

parliamentary elections in the autumn. In a

statement,

then President Mesterhazy urged all political factions to “build upon this agreement to strengthen

confidence, reduce polarisation, and bolster the Georgian people’s trust in their democracy.”

International observers, including a NATO PA delegation, issued a mixed

assessment

of the first round of elections in October. Speaking the day following the

election, Assembly Vice President

Osman Askin Bak

(Turkey) noted that “We observed a competitive election in which fundamental freedoms were generally

upheld and most procedures were followed. It was, however, far from flawless.”

Ahead of the second round, then President of the Assembly Attila Mesterhazy

called

on the Georgian authorities “to investigate and address all incidents in a

rigorous, transparent, and fair manner” but also pointed out “that any complaints regarding the administration of the elections should be settled through the

relevant existing mechanisms.”

The elections nevertheless opened a new crisis as main opposition parties refused to recognise the results. In November, during an online

Rose-Roth webinar

on the South Caucasus,

Assembly President

Gerald E. Connolly

(United States) stressed that overcoming the political impasse in Georgia “is crucial for

Georgia’s democratic future and for its Euro-Atlantic integration. And this can only be achieved by creating the conditions for dialogue and trust between

majority and opposition.”

In her

Black Sea report,

Ms Armonaite also called for enhanced support for Georgia while the country pursues further reforms.

Photo courtesy of the OSCEPA

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INFORMING ABOUT NATO IN

AN AGE OF DISINFORMATION

A majority of citizens in NATO member states remains poorly informed about the Alliance. The growing dissemination of disinformation and

propaganda, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, compounds the problem. This, in turn, directly affects public support for

NATO. To overcome this challenge, the Alliance needs to boost efforts to better inform the public about its role in safeguarding the

security of the Euro-Atlantic area. The NATO PA’s members serve as vital links between NATO and the citizens of its member countries. It

has long been committed to informing citizens about NATO’s vital role.

The Committee on the Civil Dimension of Security (CDS) leads the Assembly’s efforts on information and communication about NATO. It

undertook a number of activities on this topic in 2020.

Between 2017 and 2019, under the

leadership of former Assembly President

Prof. h.c.

Dr Karl A. Lamers

(Germany)

and in cooperation with NATO’s Public

Diplomacy Division, an Assembly Working

Group on Education and Communication

about NATO developed recommendations

and suggested activities through which

the NATO PA and its members could

help enhance national communication

and education efforts.

Through his Peace-Foundation, Dr

Lamers invited students to submit

essays on how NATO and its member

states can develop a coherent strategy

towards China. The three winners of the

Dr Karl A. Lamers Peace Prize were

announced at the NATO PA Annual

Session.

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In a

report

Enhancing Information and Education

about NATO, Angel Tilvar

(Romania) welcomed the

innovative steps taken by NATO, the NATO PA, individual

member states and partner countries to better educate

and inform the public about the Alliance. At the same

time, “much remains to be done today to better inform

and educate the general public about NATO’s crucial role

[…] and, thus, ensure support for the organisation”, he

points out.

Disinformation and propaganda have proliferated during

the COVID-19 pandemic. “Communication and

information efforts play a critical role in ensuring that

these hostile, inaccurate, and often dangerous narratives

are debunked using facts grounded in truth,” Mr Tilvar

writes. “As such, they foster trust in Allied and partner

governments and in NATO and contribute to the

Alliance’s response to this crisis.”

“The aim of disinformation campaigns is to sow doubt among citizens

and erode their faith in our democratic institutions and liberal values.

Countering this pernicious threat requires better cooperation,

education, and communication.”

Angel Tilvar (Romania)

In a report on

The Impact of the COVID-

19 pandemic on the Civil Dimension of

Security,

Assembly Vice-President

Joëlle

Garriaud-Maylam

(France) emphasises

that “the increased diffusion of

disinformation and conspiracy theories

during the pandemic poses a genuine

threat to the Allies and to all

democracies”. To better control the

informational narrative, she suggests

that “NATO should continue building its

response capacity to the pernicious

threat of disinformation in the context

of the pandemic and thereafter”.

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At a time of major geopolitical shifts, explaining

NATO’s ongoing relevance and fundamental role is

even more important. In its

recommendations

NATO 2030,

the Assembly thus called on Allied

governments to seize this opportunity to “engage

the Alliance’s publics” and “to increase public

awareness and understanding of NATO, to reach

out to new generations of Europeans and North

Americans, and to help build grassroots solidarity

among Allied societies”.

Photo courtesy of NATO

Parliamentarians have a crucial role to play in reaching out

to the public, communicating about the Alliance, and

countering disinformation aimed against it. Throughout the

year, members of the Assembly contributed to informing

their constituents and, in particular, the youth about

NATO’s role and missions.

At a November event co-organised with the Youth Atlantic

Treaty Association, then NATO PA President

Attila

Mesterhazy

(Hungary) engaged with the next generation of

Euro Atlantic leaders. They exchanged views and ideas

about the key issues facing the Alliance today and in the

future, including the importance of transatlantic relations,

strategic competition with Russia, and China's rise.

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WOMEN IN PEACE AND

SECURITY: ACHIEVEMENT AND

CHALLENGES IN THE LAST 20

YEARS

In October 2020, the world celebrated the 20th anniversary of UN

Security Council Resolution 1325. This historic milestone put

women, for the first time, at the centre of peace and security

policies. Through its adoption, nations recognised the specific

impact of conflicts on women and acknowledged their essential role

in ensuring sustainable peace.

The Assembly has long been a steadfast champion of the

resolution’s core principle that women and men are equal partners in

the pursuit of peace and security. Its members have played a

significant role in advocating for and advancing the implementation

of the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda.

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In 2020 again, they demonstrated their continuous commitment to this

central tenet. In her report

Advancing the Women, Peace and Security

Agenda, Ulla Schmidt

(Germany) welcomes the considerable progress

achieved in the past 20 years in furthering gender equality and women’s

rights in the Euro-Atlantic area and beyond. However, she also underscores

that “more efforts are needed to further the implementation of the WPS

agenda”. Indeed, “Fully translating existing policy frameworks and

mechanisms into further concrete actions remains challenging”, she adds.

In a

resolution

authored by Ms Schmidt, the Assembly reaffirmed that “the

implementation of UNSC resolution 1325 and the WPS agenda, and the

advancement of gender equality more broadly, should constitute constant

guiding principles in the development and execution of all policies and

activities in the area of peace and security”. This resolution, as well as the

Assembly’s

declaration on NATO 2030,

call on Allied governments and

parliaments, as well as NATO institutions, to take concrete steps to fully

implement their WPS-related commitments.

“The implementation of Resolution 1325 – and more broadly the WPS

agenda – should not be only at the top of the international community’s

agenda when the anniversary of its adoption is celebrated, but rather be a

constant preoccupation for policymakers in all aspects of their work.”

Ulla Schmidt (Germany)

In a

resolution

presented by Leona Alleslev (Canada) on

defence innovation, Assembly parliamentarians express their

concerns with regard to the under-representation of women

in the science and technology fields. The resolution underlines

that “encouraging the participation of women is likely to bring

new ideas and perspectives to research, development and

implementation”.

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In 2017, the Assembly revised its Rules of

Procedure to further mainstream gender into its

activities and “strongly encourage [delegations] to

seek gender diversity”. The NATO PA Secretary

General produces a progress report on this matter

every year. In 2020, the third

Review of the

Assembly's Consideration of Gender

finds that

gender-related

issues

were

consistently

mainstreamed into the Assembly’s activities,

reports, and resolutions during the 2019 review

period. It notes that five delegations had a woman

as their leader as of February 2020, compared

with only two in March 2016. However, the review

also highlights that women remain under-

represented in national delegations, accounting for

only 15% of all members. Similarly, the proportion

of female elected officers in the Assembly

decreased from 25% in 2018 to 19% in 2019. In a

significant development, in November 2020, the

Assembly elected a

new Bureau

including a

majority of women for the first time.

To highlight the progress made and remaining challenges in the

implementation of the WPS Agenda, the Assembly hosted a dedicated

webinar in October 2020 which brought together 91 lawmakers from

across the Alliance and partner parliaments. They had

in-depth

discussions

with Clare Hutchinson, the NATO Secretary General’s

Special Representative for WPS, Vice-Admiral Louise Dedichen, NATO

Military Representative for Norway, and Cristina Finch from the Geneva

Centre for Security Sector Governance (DCAF) – a long-standing

partner of the Assembly. In discussions on NATO’s accomplishments, Ms

Hutchinson stressed that “countries where women are empowered are

vastly more secure”. Co-chairing the event with the Assembly’s then

President Attila Mesterhazy (Hungary), Ulla Schmidt emphasised that

“Allied parliamentarians have a crucial role to play in this effort”.

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To mark the anniversary of Resolution 1325, the NATO PA published a series of

interviews

with Mr Mesterhazy, Ms Schmidt, and Ms Hutchinson. Sharing his

perspective on the challenges ahead, then President Mesterhazy stresses that “commitments are not sufficient if they are not followed by tangible results”.

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THE ASSEMBLY’S PARTNERSHIP WITH SWITZERLAND:

SUPPORTING DIALOGUE, OUTREACH AND ASSISTANCE

The NATO PA and the Swiss government enjoy a long-standing

cooperative relationship aimed at supporting the Assembly’s outreach

and partnership activities. Since its inception in 2000, the Geneva

Centre for Security Sector Governance (DCAF) has played a central

part in this cooperation.

Through their joint programmes, the Assembly and its Swiss partners

have provided tools, training and expert assistance to implement and

refine parliamentary oversight of national security sector institutions.

This diverse toolbox for dialogue, outreach and assistance, involving

parliamentarians from NATO and partner countries, offers a valuable

complement to NATO’s Partnership for Peace Programme.

In 2020, cooperation continued apace despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

ROSE-ROTH WEBINARS ON THE WESTERN BALKANS AND THE SOUTH CAUCASUS

Two

Rose-Roth

seminars were planned for 2020 but had to be cancelled due to the pandemic. Instead, the Assembly, supported by the Swiss

government, held online webinars focused on developments in the Western Balkans and the South Caucasus – two traditional priority areas for the

Rose-Roth programme.

THE WESTERN BALKANS

Ahead of a pivotal EU meeting on enlargement, over 130

participants from Allied and partner nations discussed progress on

Euro-Atlantic integration in the

Western Balkans

with Olivér Várhelyi,

the European Union Commissioner for Neighbourhood and

Enlargement, James Appathurai, NATO Deputy Assistant Secretary-

General for Political Affairs and Security Policy, and Ambassador

Philippe Brandt, Head of the Swiss Mission to NATO.

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THE SOUTH CAUCASUS

In the second webinar, over 30 lawmakers from 16 Allied and partner

nations explored political and security developments in the

South

Caucasus.

The discussions with renowned experts and Ambassador

Brandt came at a timely moment, shortly after parliamentary

elections in Georgia, which led to a serious political crisis, and the

ceasefire agreement signed between Armenia and Azerbaijan

following large-scale military hostilities in and around Nagorno-

Karabakh.

“Switzerland has always actively supported the Rose-Roth Programme as a

unique platform of dialogue for enhancing the cooperation between the

parliaments of NATO Member and Partner States as well as for the

promotion of our common democratic values.”

Ambassador Philippe Brandt, Head of the Swiss Mission to NATO

FIND OUT MOR E ABOUT THE R OSE-R OTH SEMINAR S

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PARLIAMENTARY OVERSIGHT OF MILITARY INTELLIGENCE

Over the years, DCAF and the NATO PA have published a number of “best

practice” surveys on how parliaments in NATO members and partners

address issues specific to the defence and security sector.

In 2020, the Assembly and DCAF worked together to put a spotlight on

parliamentary oversight of military intelligence. In a joint survey, NATO PA

delegations provided answers to a series of questions regarding the role

and functions of their parliaments and parliamentary committees on this

crucial, yet understudied matter.

The survey served as a key resource for the analysis presented in the

joint publication

Parliamentary Oversight of Military Intelligence.

Ahead of its publication, 49 lawmakers from 24 Allied and partner

nations, together with DCAF parliamentary staff and renowned experts,

explored ways to strengthen parliamentary oversight over military

intelligence agencies in a webinar on 15 December.

“DCAF and the NPA hope that this study

[Parliamentary Oversight of Military

Intelligence] will support e orts to

advance oversight over military

intelligence, and by extension, ensure

that military intelligence agencies work

in accordance with the principles of the

rule of law and respect for human

rights.”

Ambassador Thomas Guerber, DCAF

Director

“The one constant throughout NATO’s

history and the key to making this the

most successful alliance in history has

been an internal commitment to shared,

common values. The principle of

democratic control of the armed forces

and the security sector is a crucial part

of these values.”

NATO PA President Gerald E. Connolly

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WOMEN IN PEACE AND SECURITY

Ahead of the 20th anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution

1325 on

Women, Peace and Security

(WPS), the Assembly held a

special webinar on the progress made and remaining challenges.

DCAF’s head of the Gender and Security Division, Cristina Finch,

joined Clare Hutchinson, NATO Secretary General’s Special

Representative for WPS, and Vice-Admiral Louise Dedichen, Norway’s

Military Representative to NATO, during an event bringing together

91 participants from 14 Allied and partner nations and the European

Parliament.

“Parliaments can and must play a critical role in actively monitoring their

nation’s implementation of the WPS agenda, including the development and

implementation of National Action Plans.”

Cristina Finch, Head of the Gender and Security Division, DCAF

PARLIAMENTARY TRAINING PROGRAMME FOR UKRAINE

As one of its last physical meetings before the pandemic hit, the Assembly organised a

parliamentary training programme

in Brussels for members

of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, with the support of the Swiss government. Such programmes aim to provide experience and expertise on

security issues particularly to members of parliament serving in the Foreign Affairs and Defence and Security Committees.

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NATO PA POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS

In 2020, DCAF also published a compilation of the

Assembly’s policy

recommendations

from the previous year to showcase the political

debate on key topics within the Alliance.

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THE ASSEMBLY'S BUDGET

AND FINANCES

2019-2020

FUNDING SOURCES

Most of the Assembly’s funding comes from contributions from the parliaments or governments

of member nations. National contributions are determined according to the same budget key

used for the NATO civil budget (see the repartition below). The Assembly also receives a subsidy

from NATO.

Over the past 20 years, special contributions have been made at various points by the United

States Agency for International Development, DCAF – the Geneva Centre for Security Sector

Governance, the governments of Switzerland, Norway, Luxembourg, and Denmark, as well as NATO

to support the Assembly’s Rose-Roth outreach seminars and training programmes.

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THE ASSEMBLY’S BUDGET

The annual budget presented below is used to cover the International Secretariat’s operating

costs. National delegations are responsible for funding the participation of their members in

Assembly activities.

The Assembly’s budget amounted to EUR 3,994,781.00 in 2019 and EUR 4,045,125.00 in 2020.

Execution of the budget led to a surplus of EUR 4,605.97at the end of 2019.

CONTRIBUTIONS 2019 FROM MEMBER COUNTRIES

Based on the NATO Civil budget key

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE AT 31ST DECEMBER 2019

FUNDING AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

BUDGETARY PROCESS AND AUDIT

The Assembly’s Treasurer, a parliamentarian who is an elected officer of the Assembly and who

ensures that the budget is consistent with the Assembly’s political objectives, is responsible for

drafting the Assembly’s budget. The Treasurer submits the draft budget to the Standing

Committee and the full Assembly for consideration and adoption. The Secretary General

implements the budget under the oversight of the Treasurer.

The Assembly’s finances are audited by the International Board of Auditors for NATO (IBAN). In its

audit, IBAN considers whether, in accordance with the Financial Reporting Framework adopted by

the Assembly’s Standing Committee, the information in the financial statements fairly presents

the financial year-end position, the financial performance, and cash flows for the year as well as

whether accounts are properly supported by underlying records and source documentation. In

addition, IBAN also considers whether transactions are in compliance with budgetary

authorisations and applicable NATO PA regulations.

Because the audit takes place in the spring of the following year, the figures below are the

audited financial statements for 2019. The 2020 audited finances will be made public on the

NATO PA website after adoption by the Plenary Assembly.

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THE ASSEMBLY AT A GLANCE

269 MEMBERS

30 MEMBER STATES

92 ASSOCIATE MEMBERS AND PARTNERS

FIND OUT MOR E ABOUT THE NATO PA'S WOR K

FIVE MOST VIEWED 2020 WEBINARS

1. NATO’s Response to the Coronavirus Crisis

2. Political Upheaval in Belarus

3. Crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh

4. Rose-Roth webinar on the South Caucasus

5. Parliamentary Oversight Over Military Intelligence

FIVE MOST POPULAR WITH MEMBERS & PARTNERS

1. NATO’s Response to the Coronavirus Crisis

2. Crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh

3. Parliamentary Oversight Over Military Intelligence

4. Webinar with NATO Deputy Secretary Mircea General Geoana

5. Rose-Roth webinar on Euro-Atlantic Integration in the Western Balkans

2020 WEBINARS PLAYLIST

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SOCIAL MEDIA FOLLOWERS

7,930

7,366

2,771

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NPA, Alm.del - 2020-21 - Bilag 13: Annual Presidential Report 2020

CONTACT THE

NATO PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY

ENQUIRIES

SUBSCRIBE TO THE NATO PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY

NEWS AND UPDATES

NEWSLETTER

SHARE THE NATO PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY ANNUAL

PRESIDENTIAL REPORT

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NPA, Alm.del - 2020-21 - Bilag 13: Annual Presidential Report 2020

Message-from-the-president

GERRY CONNOLLY

Satatium voloration pos volorem aut inuscip santur sa endignis

etus, coruptatia aut fugiatis aut occullu ptatem que num exped quia

volorerestia nectem a sequia et autatis. Nostiam es egi aleris

noxim me vernica vividi menius simissoliis etiquam.

Message-from-the-sec-del

RUXANDRA POPA

Satatium voloration pos volorem

aut inuscip santur sa endignis

etus, coruptatia aut fugiatis aut

occullu ptatem que Nostiam es

egi aleris noxim me vernica vividi

menius in etiquam noxim me

vernica patquodiu in me vernica

etiquam.

Subheading for this paragraph

Satatium voloration pos volorem

aut inuscip santur sa endignis

etus, coruptatia aut fugiatis aut

occullu ptatem que num exped

quia volorerestia num exped quia

volorerestia nectem a sequia et

autatis et vernica autatis.

Satatium voloration pos volorem

aut inuscip santur sa endignis

etus, coruptatia aut fugiatis aut

occullu ptatem que Nostiam es

egi aleris noxim me vernica vividi

menius in etiquam noxim me

vernica patquodiu in me vernica

etiquam.

Satatium voloration pos volorem

aut inuscip santur sa endignis

etus, coruptatia aut fugiatis aut

occullu ptatem que Nostiam es

egi aleris noxim me vernica vividi

menius in etiquam noxim me

vernica patquodiu in me vernica

etiquam.

58 / 72

NPA, Alm.del - 2020-21 - Bilag 13: Annual Presidential Report 2020

REFLECTION-ON 2020 BY THE ASSEMBLY LEADERSHIP

“The best way to

predict the future is

to create it.”

Satatium voloration pos volorem aut inuscip santur sa

endignis etus, coruptatia aut fugiatis aut occullu ptatem

que Nostiam es egi aleris noxim me vernica vividi menius

in etiquam. Nostiam es fugiatis aut occullu me vernica

patquodiu in simissoliis noxim me vernica etiquam.

Subheading for this paragraph

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endignis etus, coruptatia aut fugiatis aut occullu ptatem

que num exped quia volorerestia num exped quia

volorerestia nectem a sequia et autatis et vernica autatis.

Satatium voloration pos volorem aut inuscip santur sa

endignis etus, coruptatia aut fugiatis aut occullu ptatem

que Nostiam es egi aleris noxim me vernica.

Subheading for this paragraph

Satatium voloration pos volorem aut inuscip santur sa

endignis etus, coruptatia aut fugiatis aut occullu ptatem

que num exped quia volorerestia num exped quia

volorerestia nectem a sequia et autatis et vernica autatis.

REFLECTION-ON 2020 BY THE ASSEMBLY LEADERSHIP

Satatium voloration pos volorem aut

inuscip santur sa endignis etus,

coruptatia aut fugiatis aut occullu

ptatem que Nostiam es egi aleris

noxim me vernica vividi menius in

etiquam noxim me vernica patquodiu

in me vernica etiquam.

Subheading for this paragraph

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inuscip santur sa endignis etus,

coruptatia aut fugiatis aut occullu

ptatem que Nostiam es egi aleris

noxim me vernica vividi menius in

etiquam noxim me vernica patquodiu

in me vernica etiquam.

Satatium voloration pos volorem aut

inuscip santur sa endignis etus,

coruptatia aut fugiatis aut occullu

ptatem que Nostiam es egi aleris

noxim me vernica vividi menius in

etiquam noxim me vernica patquodiu

in me vernica etiquam.

Subheading for this paragraph

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inuscip santur sa endignis etus,

coruptatia aut fugiatis aut occullu

ptatem que num exped quia

volorerestia num exped quia

volorerestia nectem a sequia et

autatis et vernica autatis.

59 / 72

NPA, Alm.del - 2020-21 - Bilag 13: Annual Presidential Report 2020

REFLECTION-ON 2020 BY THE ASSEMBLY LEADERSHIP

Litatiorem atus

blabore plate

cerrum nobit

quaestibus

Satatium voloration pos volorem aut inuscip santur sa

endignis etus, coruptatia aut fugiatis aut occullu

ptatem que num exped quia volorerestia num exped

quia volorerestia nectem a sequia et autatis et vernica

autatis. Litatiorem atus blabore plate cerrum nobit.

Satatium voloration pos volorem aut inuscip santur.

Subheading for this paragraph

Satatium voloration pos volorem aut inuscip santur sa

endignis etus, coruptatia aut fugiatis aut occullu

ptatem que num exped quia volorerestia num exped

quia volorerestia nectem a sequia et autatis et vernica

autatis.

60 / 72

NPA, Alm.del - 2020-21 - Bilag 13: Annual Presidential Report 2020

China

Satatium voloration

pos volorem aut

inuscip santur sa

endignis

Satatium voloration pos volorem aut inuscip

santur sa endignis etus, coruptatia aut fugiatis

aut occullu ptatem que num exped quia

volorerestia nectem a sequia et autatis. Nostiam

es egi aleris noxim me vernica vividi menius

simissoliis etiquam.

Funding-Sources

Most of the Assembly’s funding comes from contributions from the parliaments or governments of member nations. National contributions

are determined according to the same budget key used for the NATO civil budget (see the repartition below). The Assembly also receives a

subsidy from NATO.

Over the past 20 years, special contributions have been made at various points by the United States Agency for International Development,

DCAF – the Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance, the governments of Switzerland, Norway, Luxembourg, and Denmark, as well as

NATO to support the Assembly’s Rose-Roth outreach seminars and training programmes.

THE-ASSEMBLY’S BUDGET

The annual budget presented here is used

to cover the International Secretariat’s

operating costs. National delegations are

responsible for funding the participation of

their members in Assembly activities.

The Assembly’s budget amounted to EUR

3,994,781.00 in 2019 and EUR 4,045,125.00

in 2020. Execution of the budget led to a

surplus of EUR 4,605.97at the end of 2019.

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NPA, Alm.del - 2020-21 - Bilag 13: Annual Presidential Report 2020

Budgetary-Process-and-Audit

The Assembly’s Treasurer, a parliamentarian who is an elected officer of the Assembly and who ensures that the budget is consistent with

the Assembly’s political objectives, is responsible for drafting the Assembly’s budget. The Treasurer submits the draft budget to the

Standing Committee and the full Assembly for consideration and adoption. The Secretary General implements the budget under the

oversight of the Treasurer.

The Assembly’s finances are audited by the International Board of Auditors for NATO (IBAN). In its audit, IBAN considers whether, in

accordance with the Financial Reporting Framework adopted by the Assembly’s Standing Committee, the information in the financial

statements fairly presents the financial year-end position, the financial performance, and cash flows for the year as well as whether

accounts are properly supported by underlying records and source documentation. In addition, IBAN also considers whether transactions

are in compliance with budgetary authorisations and applicable NATO PA regulations.

Because the audit takes place in the spring of the following year, the figures below are the audited financial statements for 2019. The

2020 audited finances will be made public on the NATO PA website after adoption by the Plenary Assembly.

Understanding-the multifaceted impact of the covid-19 crisis

Bitatio atus blabo

plate cer nobit qua

Et voloris nossi

nonsectaquid es perore

sequi corum re dolum

audigen dendel intiam

fugiaspe earciamus.

62 / 72

NPA, Alm.del - 2020-21 - Bilag 13: Annual Presidential Report 2020

Understanding-the multifaceted impact of the covid-19 crisis

Litatiorem atus

blabore plate cerrum

nobit quaestibus

“Do or do not;

there is no try.”

63 / 72

NPA, Alm.del - 2020-21 - Bilag 13: Annual Presidential Report 2020

Understanding-the multifaceted impact of the covid-19 crisis

Satatium

voloration

pos

volorem

aut

inuscip

santur sa

endignis

etus,

coruptatia

aut

fugiatis

aut

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pos

volorem

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coruptatia.

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num exped

quia

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nectem a

sequia et

autatis.

Nostiam es

egi aleris

noxim me

vernica

fugiatis

vividi in.

64 / 72

NPA, Alm.del - 2020-21 - Bilag 13: Annual Presidential Report 2020

Understanding-the multifaceted impact of the covid-19 crisis

Satatium

voloration

pos

volorem

aut

inuscip

santur sa

endignis

etus,

coruptatia

aut

fugiatis

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que num

exped

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pos

volorem

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endignis

etus

coruptatia.

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volorem

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santur sa

endignis

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num exped

quia

volorerestia

nectem a

sequia et

autatis.

Nostiam es

egi aleris

noxim me

vernica

fugiatis

vividi in.

Understanding-the multifaceted impact of the covid-19 crisis

Satatium voloration

pos volorem aut

inuscip santur sa

endignis etus,

coruptatia aut

fugiatis aut occullu

ptatem que num

exped quia volo

satatium voloration

pos volorem aut

santur sa endignis

etus coruptatia.

65 / 72

NPA, Alm.del - 2020-21 - Bilag 13: Annual Presidential Report 2020

Understanding-the multifaceted impact of the covid-19 crisis

Satatium

voloration

pos

volorem

aut

inuscip

santur sa

endignis

etus,

coruptatia

aut

fugiatis

aut

occullu

ptatem

que num

exped

quia volo

satatium

voloration

pos

volorem

aut santur

endignis

etus

coruptatia.

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volorem

aut inuscip

santur sa

endignis

etus,

coruptatia

aut fugiatis

aut occullu

ptatem que

num exped

quia

volorerestia

nectem a

sequia et

autatis.

Nostiam es

egi aleris

noxim me

vernica

fugiatis

vividi in.

WINTER/SPRING

Winter - Spring

The February visit to Washington, DC by then President Attila Mesterhazy (Hungary) is the first opportunity to follow up on

the London Leaders’ meeting.

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NPA, Alm.del - 2020-21 - Bilag 13: Annual Presidential Report 2020

WINTER/SPRING

Alliance values, NATO adaptation, and role of parliamentary diplomacy in the spotlight, as President Mesterhazy wraps up

his first visit to Washington D.C.

Photo courtesy of the OSCE PA and the Helsinki Commission

WINTER/SPRING

The power and purpose of parliamentary diplomacy

Inter-Parliamentary Initiatives and the U.S. Contribution

Helsinki Commission Hearing

Video courtesy of the Helsinki Commission

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NPA, Alm.del - 2020-21 - Bilag 13: Annual Presidential Report 2020

WINTER/SPRING

The Assembly’s annual joint meeting with the North Atlantic Council and top NATO officials in February offers an early

opportunity for an exchange of views on the main issues on the Alliance’s agenda in 2020.

WINTER/SPRING

In Brussels, North American and European legislators affirm enduring commitment to transatlantic link.

Photo courtesy of NATO (top right), Brussels, February 2020

SUMMER

Summer

In July, the Assembly President discusses priorities for NATO 2030 and the Assembly’s role with the NATO

Secretary General.

Between July and September, the Assembly conducts a survey of its delegations’ priorities, which provided

the groundwork for the Assembly’s input.

SUMMER

NATO PA President reviews Alliance priorities with NATO Secretary General.

Photo courtesy of NATO (Right: Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg) Brussels, July 2020

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AUTUMN

Autumn

In October, the Standing Committee – the Assembly’s governing body – meets with the Group of Experts

appointed by the NATO Secretary General to assist him in this reflection process.

Later in October, Assembly member engage in a wide ranging exchange of views with the NATO Deputy

Secretary General on NATO 2030.

AUTUMN

NATO2030: Lawmakers discuss partnerships, disruptive technologies, and resilience with NATO Deputy Secretary General

Geoana.

Photo courtesy of NATO, Brussels, February 2020

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NPA, Alm.del - 2020-21 - Bilag 13: Annual Presidential Report 2020

AUTUMN

At its online annual session in November, the Assembly also discusses NATO 2030 and other key priorities

directly with the NATO Secretary General.

AUTUMN

NATO PA backs process to forge a stronger, more united Alliance.

Photo courtesy of NATO (right), Brussels, November 2020

AUTUMN

At the annual session, the Assembly adopts a declaration, put forward by the then President, laying out its

recommendations for NATO 2030.

AUTUMN

66th Annual Session, held online for the first time on 18-23 November 2020

Click here to view the Annual Session playlist

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NPA, Alm.del - 2020-21 - Bilag 13: Annual Presidential Report 2020

AUTUMN

At the end of November, the newly elected Assembly President, Gerald E. Connolly (United States) and his

predecessor Mr Mesterhazy lay out their common views on NATO 2030 during an event organised by the

German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF).

AUTUMN

Readying the Alliance for tomorrow’s challenges: NATO PA leaders discuss NATO 2030 with NATO Assistant Secretary

General at GMF public event.

Video courtesy of the German Marshall Fund of the United States, Brussels, November 2020

Key-Assembly proposals for a transatlantic strategy on China

Key Assembly proposals for a

transatlantic strategy on China

•

improve information-sharing and joint analysis

on China and China-Russia relations;

•

adjust NATO’s strategic documents, including

its Strategic Concept, accordingly;

•

enhance resilience to Chinese disinformation

and cyber activities;

•

enhance mechanisms to assess risks linked to

third-party investments in strategic sectors;

•

examine the possibilities for a closer dialogue

with China on military transparency, freedom of

navigation and disaster response, inter alia;

•

establish a NATO-certified Centre of Excellence

on the Indo-Pacific;

•

closer coordination with the EU and like-

minded partners in the Indo-Pacific.

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ROSE-ROTH-SEMINARS

ROSE-ROTH SEMINARS

A central part of the Assembly’s work is the Rose-Roth Programme of partnership and

cooperation - initially with Central and Eastern European countries but subsequently

throughout the Euro-Atlantic region. This programme seeks to assist partner countries,

mainly in the Balkans and the South Caucasus, through a challenging transition process,

which involves the implementation of difficult political and economic reforms.

The Rose-Roth Programme involves a series of seminars focused on regional and topical

security issues and training programmes for parliamentary staff and members of

Parliament. The aim is to enhance parliamentary awareness, build contacts and provide

experience and expertise. Particular attention is paid to promoting the principle of the

democratic control of armed forces and to the development of effective parliamentary

oversight of defence and the military.

Congressmen Charlie Rose and Bill Roth

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