Report

Introduction

The Canadian delegation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s Parliamentary Assembly (NATO-PA) is honoured to present its report on the meeting of the Standing Committee, which was held in Berlin, Germany, from March 31 to April 1, 2017. The Parliament of Canada was represented by Ms. Leona Alleslev, MP, head of the Canadian delegation; the Hon. Joseph A. Day, Senator; and Ms. Cheryl Gallant, MP. The delegation was accompanied by Mr. Jean-François Pagé, Association Secretary.

Presentation by Christian Mölling, Deputy Director of the Research Institute of the German Council on Foreign Relations, on burden sharing within NATO

Mr. Mölling gave a presentation on the level of spending required for NATO member states. Beyond the amounts invested by governments, it is important to ensure that the funds are directed to projects that will increase collective security. In the past, governments have had a tendency to spend large sums on bureaucracy or ineffective projects, or to create jobs in national industries. Without calling into question the importance of economic spinoffs, Mr. Mölling suggested that this system makes it more difficult to fund legitimate expenses for collective security.

Therefore, the target should be set at 2% of the defence budget based on gross domestic product, but it must take into account collective security needs as well, not just the needs of member states. Mr. Mölling said counter-terrorism and cyber-defence are examples of areas of general interest that should be invested in.

To close, Mr. Mölling cautioned participants against taking into consideration only the face value of the sums invested and not their true value. He mentioned that Germany’s defence budget has decreased by 50% over 14 years if inflation is taken into account.

President’s priorities at the NATO Parliamentary Assembly

Paolo Alli (Italy), President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, shared his priorities with the members of the Standing Committee:

• creating a working group on education and communication about NATO;
• developing structured co-operation with NATO military commands;
• strengthening our co-operation with the European Parliament;
• strengthening our co-operation with other international institutions;
• producing an annual report;
• strengthening transatlantic ties.

In some member states, NATO’s role is still poorly understood by citizens, and even parliamentary colleagues. Members of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly have an important role to play in communicating the importance of NATO and it's critical role in collective and national security.

It was proposed that a working group be established to develop new communication tools for parliaments and schools. President Alli appointed Mr. Karl A. Lamers (Germany), former President, to chair this working group.

The working group will work to identify existing materials and to determine what materials should be developed. Each delegation will have to determine how this material can be adopted to their country’s situation and shared with young people-for example, through agreements with their departments of education or through media campaigns.

The materials will be designed for:

• students aged 12 and 13;
• students aged 14 to 18;
• university students;
• teachers.

The head of the Canadian delegation, MP Leona Alleslev, took the opportunity to officially invite members of the Assembly to Halifax for the 64th Annual Session. She proposed holding an event similar to a mock youth parliament, but for NATO. The members present were receptive to her suggestion.

Financial report

A report on the audit of NATO-PA’s financial statements and the NATO-PA contingency fund for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2016, was presented by Lyn Sachs, Chair of the International Board of Auditors for NATO.

During her presentation, Lyn Sachs, a Canadian working for NATO in Brussels, said that the NATO-PA financial statements and its contingency fund for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2016, are, for all intents and purposes, consistent with the fiscal framework adopted by the NATO-PA and the accounting principles outlined in the NATO-PA financial rules and regulations and the contingency fund rules and regulations.

Marc Angel, Member of Parliament (Luxembourg) and NATO-PA Treasurer, summarized the Assembly’s financial situation. He listed the Assembly’s sources of income and its expenses, and said there was a surplus of €20,716.90 for the 2016 fiscal year.

It was agreed to put this surplus toward updating the Assembly’s IT system.

Respectfully submitted,

Ms. Leona Alleslev, M.P.
Chair of the Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association