“In the light of the growing security policy challenges along Europe’s borders, NATO’s Parliamentary Assembly has become an ever more important transatlantic arena for joint political thinking and debate,” said Øyvind Halleraker (Conservative Party), Head of the NATO PA Delegation.

The NATO Parliamentary Assembly (NATO PA) convenes twice a year, with the member countries taking it in turn to host the sessions. This year, Stavanger will be the location of the Autumn Session from 9th-12th October. The last time Norway arranged such an event was in Oslo in 2009.

Developments in NATO, current security policy issues, such as the situation in Ukraine and the Middle East, and proposals on related reports and recommendations will be on the agenda in Stavanger.

Close to 900 delegates

There will be between 800 and 900 delegates at the session in Stavanger. All 28 of NATO’s member countries will be present along with delegations from the 14 associate members. Jens Stoltenberg, Secretary General of NATO, as well as Norwegian and other international experts are also expected to take part. Representatives from various Norwegian authorities will also be invited.

“Speakers from and speeches made by the Norwegian authorities and research environments during the session provide an important opportunity to promote Norwegian security policy expertise to the parliamentary decision-makers in the 48 member, partner and observer countries,” said Mr Halleraker.

The Assembly – a link in the chain

The NATO PA is a vital link between the military alliance and its member countries’ parliaments.

Through their work in the NATO PA, democratically elected representatives can contribute to the shaping of NATO policy. They also provide NATO with an important democratic basis within the parliaments. An additional objective of the Assembly is to contribute actively to the Alliance’s development. That being said, the Assembly does not participate in the formal decision-making processes in NATO.

The NATO PA has played a particularly important role in the eastward expansion of NATO and as a entry point for political dialogue and competence building within potential partner countries.

In addition to having a hand in the work of the Assembly, the members of the NATO PA are able to gain valuable insight into important questions relating to the development of NATO and the transatlantic cooperation on which it is founded. The committees and debates in the Storting benefit from this knowledge. The Assembly’s work takes place in two different forums: the General Assembly on the one hand and the Standing Committee and its five permanent committees on the other. In addition to this, other sub-committees are set up on an ad hoc basis to examine particular questions and studies. These sub-committees convene as required throughout the year.