The NATO Parliamentary Assembly (NATO PA)
The NATO Parliamentary Assembly is a forum for members of parliament from the NATO member states and associated members. The Assembly works with defence and security policy issues in a broad perspective. Since 2003, the Riksdag has been an associated member and has had full access to the activities of the Assembly since 2022.
NATO is a defence policy alliance between the USA, Canada and several countries in Europe. The organisation was founded in 1951. Parliamentary cooperation has been developed successively since 1955. Activities in the NATO Parliamentary Assembly started in their current form in 1967–1968. They aim to promote understanding among the parliamentarians of the Assembly for the security challenges facing NATO cooperation.
The Assembly follows NATO's agenda and its activities are shaped by NATO's political priorities and goals.
The website of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly
Participates in debates but does not vote
The Assembly gathers a large number of parliamentarians from member countries, associated countries, partner countries and observers.
The Swedish delegation was an observer to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly until 2003, when it acquired status as an associated member. When Sweden was granted invitee status in 2022, the Swedish Parliamentary Delegation to NATO was granted observer status at meetings which are normally only between the delegations of member countries. This means that Swedish members can participate in the debates and all the other activities that are arranged. However, they do not have the right to vote and do not pay a fee to the Assembly.
The Assembly meets at two annual meetings, known as sessions, in the spring and the autumn. The activities then take place partly at plenary meetings and partly in five committees.
The five committees are:
- the Defence and Security Committee
- the Economics and Security Committee
- the Political Committee
- the Science and Technology Committee
- the Committee on Democracy and Security
The committees present reports and proposals for resolutions on various subjects within their areas of activity. The reports and resolutions are debated during the spring session and are then adopted at the autumn session.
Exchange of knowledge in security policy matters
During the year, each committee also organises visits and seminars in various places in the member countries. Each year, Rose-Roth seminars are arranged with the purpose of exchange of knowledge and dialogue on topical security policy issues. These seminars are organised primarily in countries in Central and Eastern Europe.
The Swedish delegation
The Swedish Delegation to NATO is appointed by the Speaker, in consultation with the party group leaders in the Riksdag for a term of four years. The delegation consists of five ordinary members, including one chair and one deputy chair, plus five deputy members. Each year, the delegation presents an annual report to the Speaker which is also circulated to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Defence.