Introduction

The European Parliament's delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (DNAT) is made up of 10 MEPs who serve as the link between the Parliament and NATO's forum for parliamentarians. Participants in the NATO Parliamentary Assembly are either full members -- drawn from the countries in the North Atlantic Alliance -- or associate members.

The delegation ensures that the Assembly benefits from an EU perspective, as well as from the particular and democratic voice of the directly elected Members of the European Parliament.

Activities

At present, the DNAT has a sui generis status within the NATO PA, which makes it more than an Observer and less than an Associate Member.

According to a decision of the NATO PA Standing Committee in 2005, the DNAT has the following rights:

• full speaking rights in the sessions of the Assembly
• a delegation size of up to ten MEPs
• at the invitation of Committees, the possibility of presenting draft reports [1]
• the possibility of presenting texts[2] but not amendments
• no voting rights
• is invited to the Rose-Roth seminars, the Mediterranean Special Group seminars, and the activities of its Committees and Sub-Committees[3]

Since constituting DNAT, the European Parliament has aimed to improve the status of its delegation to the NATO PA, and in particular to obtain the right to table amendments. DNAT Members are encouraged to participate actively in the Assembly and to make full use of their current rights.

The DNAT delegation joins the Assembly for various activities, including two annual sessions in spring and autumn, respectively. The delegation is subsequently debriefing the Sub-Committee on Security and Defence. The European Parliament may also participate in most of the Assembly's committee and sub-committee activities.

In Brussels, the delegation also organises exchanges of views with decision-makers, high-ranking staff and prominent experts from both organisations. Speakers from the European External Action Service, NATO, the NATO Parliamentary Assembly and various think tanks have all addressed recent delegation meetings.

Members and focus

The delegation's 10 members are all drawn from the Parliament's Subcommittee on Security and Defence (SEDE)[4].

While the delegation generally serves to make the Union and the Parliament more visible, its work is particularly important in overseeing EU-NATO cooperation as well as the theatres of operations where both the EU and NATO are engaged. These include for instance Afghanistan, Kosovo and the Mediterranean Sea where the partners are working to fight migrant smugglers and traffickers as well as contribute to safeguarding maritime security.

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[1] This right has not been exercised so far.

[2] According to the NATO PA rules of procedure, these texts can be: declarations, resolutions, recommendations, orders and opinions. This right has not been exercised so far.

[3] Except those excluded by the Standing Committee.

[4] Wednesday, 18 September 2024 on the number and numerical strength of interparliamentary delegations