“The current situation in Ukraine makes it even more important to look for solutions,” says Sverre Myrli (Labour Party), a member of the Storting’s Delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly.

Myrli has just returned from a trip to Kiev and the Verkhovna Rada in connection with the NATO PA’s commitments in Ukraine. These are safeguarded through the Ukraine-NATO Interparliamentary Council (UNIC). UNIC comprises ten parliamentarians from the NATO PA and ten from the Verkhovna Rada.

Closer integration

UNIC’s primary objective is to promote closer ties between Ukraine and NATO.

“The ultimate aim is NATO membership for Ukraine, but the way things are at present it’s a long road ahead,” says Myrli, the only Norwegian parliamentarian in UNIC.

UNIC is a central forum for following up the NATO-Ukraine Charter, which has defined the relationship between NATO and Ukraine since the early 1990s. Collaboration has intensified in conjunction with the ongoing conflict.

Following up the Charter     

The NATO PA parliamentarians and their counterparts from the Verkhovna Rada issued a joint statement after the meetings this June in which they underlined the struggle for sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Among other things it was stated here that “the Assembly has held a succession of high-level meetings in Ukraine, and has repeatedly called upon the international community to assist Ukraine in dealing with the many challenges it faces”.

On the agenda in Stavanger

UNIC meets approximately twice a year. The NATO PA will draw on the experience gained from the meetings in Kiev when it convenes in Stavanger, with Ukraine undoubtedly one of the most important items on the agenda in October.

During the NATO PA’s Spring Session in Budapest the Economics and Security Committee present a draft report on Ukraine. This draft report will be discussed and will undergo its final consideration by the Assembly as a whole in Stavanger.