The NATO PA Bureau met again online today to take stock of the implementation of the Assembly’s priorities four months after the COVID-19 pandemic forced the NATO PA to suspend in-person meetings. This week, the Assembly concluded three weeks of online Committee meetings. During these meetings, Allied legislators reviewed the many dimensions of the COVID-19 crisis, examined the opportunities and challenges related to China’s rise, and discussed a range of other challenges affecting Euro-Atlantic security. All Assembly’s draft reports and recordings of Committee meetings are available on the NATO PA website.
“Throughout the past four months, the NATO PA has continued to provide a valuable platform for parliamentarians from Europe and North America to exchange on their individual and collective responses to the COVID-19 pandemic as well as on the many threats and challenges which our countries continue to face,” NATO PA President Attila Mesterhazy (Hungary) commented. “The discussions our Committees have held over these past weeks have highlighted that the COVID-19 pandemic makes building parliamentary and public support for defence more – not less – important”.
The Bureau also reviewed the Assembly’s priorities and work programme for the second half of 2020, including the second round of online Committee meetings which will be held from 31 August to 16 September. One of the Assembly’s key priorities this autumn will be to develop its contribution to the NATO 2030 reflection process led by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
“The NATO 2030 initiative offers a genuine and important opportunity to reflect upon current and future challenges, NATO’s priorities, and ways to enhance political dialogue within the Alliance. The NATO PA looks forward to contributing fully to this process and bringing in the parliamentary perspective”, Mr Mesterhazy stressed.
The NATO PA Bureau consists of the President, Vice-Presidents and Treasurer. The Secretary General, the Head of the United States delegation, and members of the outgoing Bureau also participate in its meetings.
