The first session of the Joint Meeting was chaired by Chairperson of the Political Committee Mr Ojars Eriks Kalnins (Latvia), and the participants were greeted with remarks by President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly Mr Paolo Alli (Italy).
This was followed by the welcome remarks by Permanent Representative of Belgium to NATO H.E. Mr François de Kerchove d’Exaerde, during which he presented activities of this international organisation in light of current security developments, followed by Q&A.
Based on the presentation by Deputy Assistant Secretary General, Political Affairs and Security Policy Division, NATO, Mr James Appathurai on “NATO’s Political Agenda”, the participants in the meeting directed their interest towards the next steps of this organisation in light of modern security challenges with special reference to the importance of joint action and full engagement of all stakeholders aimed at ensuring peace.
In continuation of work of the Joint Meeting, the discussion of the participants was stimulated by presentation by Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Intelligence, NATO, Brigadier General Paul D. Nelson on “Intelligence Beyond NATO”.
The second session of the event was marked by presentation by Special Representative for Women, Peace and Security to the NATO Secretary General Ambassador Ms Marriët Schuurman, on “Women, Peace and Security: Opportunities and Challenges from a NATO Perspective”, and in the final part of day one of the Joint Meeting, within the session chaired by Chairperson of the Economics and Security Committee Mr Faik Oztrak (Turkey), the participants were addressed by Director of the Crisis Management and Planning Directorate at the European External Action Service Mr Gabor Iklody with presentation on “Prospects for Future EU-NATO Cooperation”.
Continuation of work on day two of the Joint Meeting, within the fourth session with the same chair, was marked by presentation by NATO Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Emerging Security Challenges Dr Jamie Shea on “NATO and the Fight against Terrorism”.
The fifth thematic part of the Joint Meeting of the NATO PA was chaired by Chairperson of the Defence and Security Committee Mr Raymond Knops (The Netherlands), and the panel discussion was held on the topic “The Alliance in Turbulent Times: Pressures from Outside and from Within”, during which the following spoke: Permanent Representative of France to NATO H.E. Ms Hélène Duchêne, Permanent Representative of Italy to NATO H.E. Mr Claudio Bisogniero, Chargé d’affaires a.i., Polish Mission to NATO Mr Michal Polakow, while in the final part of the event the participants were addressed by Chargé d’affaires a.i. at the United States Mission to NATO Mr Earle D. Litzenberger.
During the sixth session of the Joint Meeting, the discussion of participants was stimulated by presentation by Head of the Operations and Missions Section B at the NATO Operations Division Mr Nick Williams on “NATO’s Current Operations”.
This was followed by the discussion on the topic: “Strengthening Europe and North America’s Defence Industrial Base”, during which the addresses were given by Chairman of the NATO Industrial Advisory Group Mr Martin Hill and NATO Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Defence Investment Mr Ernest J. Herold, while in the final segment of the seventh thematic unit the address was given by Deputy Chief Executive, European Defence Agency Mr Rini Goos.
On day three of the Joint Meeting of the Defence and Security Committee, Economics and Security Committee, and Political Committee of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (20 February 2017), a meeting will be held among the members of the Bureau and the Standing Committee, chairpersons of committees and members of delegations of the United States of America and Canada in the NATO HQ, with permanent representatives in the North Atlantic Council, which will be attended by Mr Obrad Mišo Stanišić, upon invitation.
