The Riigikogu Delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly defends Estonian foreign and security policy positions at the meetings and in the committees of the Parliamentary Assembly. The NATO Parliamentary Assembly has five committees that cover the areas which are relevant for NATO member states.
The delegation helps to carry out the main tasks of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, which include:
- cooperation between member countries in defence and security issues;
- defending the security policy positions and foreign policy interests of Estonia;
- preparing topical reports and resolutions on security and defence issues;
- participating in the events organised by the Assembly and the work of its committees;
- ensuring the continuity of the Assembly.
NATO Parliamentary Assembly
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization or NATO is a political and military Alliance that was established with the North Atlantic Treaty, or the Washington Treaty, on 4 April 1949. NATO had 12 founding members: Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Great Britain and USA. Currently, NATO has 32 members. The principal decision-making body of NATO is the North Atlantic Council (NAC). It is chaired by the Secretary General of NATO.
The NATO Parliamentary Assembly (NATO PA) also has 32 member states. In addition to NATO countries, delegates from 22 Partners for Comprehensive Security, including 3 NATO candidate countries, can participate in all sessions of the Assembly and the work of its committees without the right to vote. Headquarters of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly are in Brussels.
The Assembly has Plenary Sessions twice a year, in spring and in autumn. The NATO PA is made up of 281 delegates from the 32 NATO member countries. Representatives of partner countries and candidate countries also take part in the work of the Plenary Sessions, bringing the total number of delegates to approximately 355.
The NATO Parliamentary Assembly serves as a link between NATO and the parliaments of the NATO countries. Through its activities, the Assembly facilitates the awareness of the parliaments of its member countries of the key issues affecting the security of the Euro-Atlantic area, and supports national parliamentary oversight over defence and security.
The head of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly is the President. Besides him, Vice-Presidents, the Treasurer and the Secretary General form the leadership of the Assembly.
Committees
Committees cover the areas which are relevant for NATO member states:
- Poliitikakomitee
- Kaitse- ja julgeolekukomitee
- Majandus- ja julgeolekukomitee
- Demokraatia- ja julgeoleku komitee
- Teadus- ja tehnoloogiakomitee
Estonia became an associate country of NATO Parliamentary Assembly in October 1991, and a full member of NATO on 29 March 2004.
