Ms Eva Kaili, Head of the EP Delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (NATO PA), and Mr Paolo Alli, NATO PA President, delivered introductory remarks on day one of the Interparliamentary meeting.
With regard to EU-NATO cooperation, it was noted that on 8 July 2016, a Joint declaration was signed in Warsaw by the President of the European Council, the President of the European Commission, and the Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, aimed at giving new impetus and new substance to the NATO-EU strategic partnership and strengthening cooperation in the following fields: countering hybrid threats; operational cooperation including at sea and on migration; cyber security and defence; defence capabilities; defence industry and research; exercises; supporting Eastern and Southern partners’ capacity-building efforts Also, it was noted that with a view to consolidating progress and ensuring further advances in all areas, on 5 December 2017, the two Councils endorsed a common set of new proposals. The set includes a total of 32 actions for the implementation of the Joint Declaration. They also address new topics, such as counter-terrorism, military mobility and women, peace and security.
As for the new era of NATO-EU cooperation, participants of the meeting stressed that as a direct follow-up to the Joint Declaration, the two organisations were opening their activities to each other to gain better knowledge and understanding of each other. Cooperation is now indeed the established norm and daily practice, providing a solid basis for further enhanced interaction.
Member of the Parliament of Montenegro's Permanent Delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly Mr Obrad Mišo Stanišić is taking part in the Interparliamentary meeting with the European Parliament's Delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, on the topic: Countering New Threats Together - A New Era of EU-NATO Cooperation, held in cooperation with the Centre for Democratic Control of the Armed Forces (DCAF) from Geneva, on 4 and 5 June in Brussels.
This meeting is an opportunity for participants to discuss the roles of NATO and the European Union in the security system, with a special focus on strengthening cooperation and possible enhancement thereof.
Interparliamentary meeting continues tomorrow.
