Report

JOINT MEETINGS – BRUSSELS FEBRUARY 20-22, 2011

The Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association has the honour to present its report on the Joint Meeting of the Defence and Security, Economics and Security and Political Committees held in Brussels, Belgium, February 20-22, 2011, and on the Annual Economics and Security Committee’s consultation with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) held in Paris, France, February 23-24, 2011. Canada was represented in Brussels by Senator Raynell Andreychuk, Senator Jane Cordy, Senator Joseph A. Day, Senator Pierre Claude Nolin, Mr. Leon Benoit, M.P., Mr. Blaine Calkins, M.P., Mrs. Bonnie Crombie, M.P. and Mr. Pierre Lemieux, M.P. In Paris, Mr. Leon Benoit, M.P. and Mrs. Bonnie Crombie, M.P. were Canada’s representatives

In Brussels, the session was opened by Senator Raynell Andreychuk, Chair of the Political Committee. She invited words of welcome from Dr. Karl Lamers, President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. Dr. Lamers noted the important events unfolding in North Africa and elsewhere in the Middle East, which were expected to have significant impact on certain NATO member states and therefore on the Alliance as a whole. He suggested that NATO must remain alert to opportunities for the Alliance to provide assistance when requested.

The Committees then heard from Ambassador Dirk Brengelmann, Assistant Secretary General for the NATO Political Affairs and Security Policy, who spoke about NATO’s current political agenda and steps to implement the new “Strategic Concept for the Defence and Security of the Members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.” Thereafter, members heard from Mr. Martin Howard, the Assistant Secretary General for NATO Operations. Mr. Howard updated members on a number of on-going NATO operations. Canada played an active role in the development of the new Strategic Concept and continues to provide significant maritime, land and air elements to a variety of NATO missions, particularly in Afghanistan.

During the afternoon session, Senator Andreychuk moderated a panel composed of Ambassador Martin Erdmann, Permanent Representative of Germany to NATO, Ambassador Linas Linkevicius, Permanent Representative of Lithuania to NATO, and Mr. John Heffern, Deputy Permanent Representative of the United States to NATO. Discussion centered on three main topics: challenges inherent in implementing NATO’s new Strategic Concept; the transition of the NATO mission in Afghanistan; and discussion of possible NATO involvement in the unfolding events in North Africa. Given Canada’s engagement in Afghanistan and the fact that a number of Canadians are present in both Afghanistan and North Africa, the discussion was of considerable value to the Canadian delegation.

The next session was chaired by Senator Joseph Day, Chair of the Defence and Security Committee. Members heard from Ambassador Gabor Iklody, Assistant Secretary General for Emerging Security Challenges, who discussed new threats to NATO member states arising in the fields of terrorism, weapons of mass destruction (WMD), cyber defence and energy security. Participants were particularly interested in how Article 5 of the NATO Charter, a cornerstone of the new Strategic Concept, would apply to events resulting from these types of emerging threats. There is, of course, no immediate or easy answer. Discussion explored the various complications inherent in addressing such threats.

The morning session on Monday, February 21, was also chaired by Senator Day. He introduced Lieutenant General William B. Caldwell (US Army), Commander of the NATO Training Mission – Afghanistan (NTM-A). General Caldwell outlined the role and mission of the NTM-A and its central importance to the transition of the NATO mission in Afghanistan. He made the point that NATO trainers are essential to the growth, both in quantity and in quality, of the Afghan National Security Forces. Canada will contribute a contingent of up to 950 trainers, a commitment second in size only to the United States. About 500 positions in the overall training organization remain to be filled by other NATO allies or partners.

The next speaker was Patrick Auroy, Assistant Secretary General for Defence Investment. He outlined issues involved in NATO missile defence development. NATO’s work on missile defence began in the early 1990s in response to proliferation of WMD and their delivery systems. Initially, focus fell on protecting deployed NATO troops, but work was expanded in 2002 to include the protection of population centres and national territory. Subsequently, at the NATO Summit in Lisbon in November 2010, NATO leaders decided to build a missile defence capability for NATO-Europe in order to protect its territory and populations.

In the afternoon, selected delegates, including the entire Canadian delegation, traveled to NATO Headquarters in Brussels for a meeting with Permanent Representatives of the North Atlantic Council, chaired by NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen. The wide-ranging discussion touched on many issues of importance to NATO, but parliamentarians were particularly keen on making the point that NATO should ‘lean forward’ in preparing for possible intervention in North Africa. Some Permanent Representatives urged caution and noted that the situation in Libya is still far from clear.

On Tuesday February 22, NATO PA delegates traveled to Mons, Belgium, to receive briefings on NATO military issues at the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE). They were welcomed by General Manfred Lange (German Air Force), the SHAPE Chief of Staff. Colonel Manuel Espinosa (US Army) delivered an overview of current NATO military operations in the Mediterranean Sea, the Balkans, off the Horn of Africa and in Afghanistan. General Lange then led a question and answer period.

Lieutenant General Frank J. Kisner (US Air Force), Commander of the NATO Special Operations Headquarters, briefed delegates on development of the relatively new NATO Special Operations Forces (SOF) capability, including the establishment and building of a new SOF headquarters.

MEETINGS AT THE OECD, PARIS – FEBRUARY 23 and 24, 2011 

Mr. Leon Benoit and Mrs. Bonnie Crombie also participated in meetings at the OECD in Paris. The Economic and Security Committee of the NATO PA has been making annual visits to the OECD for briefings by the Secretariat, since 1976.

On February 23, NATO PA delegates heard from a number of OECD senior staff in a number of relevant areas of work. To begin the day, introductory comments were delivered by Mr. Gianni Bernetti, Vice Chairman of the NATO PA Economics and Security Committee, followed by John Sewel, the Rapporteur of the Subcommittee on East-West Economic Cooperation and Convergence. Then Mr. Art de Geus, OECD Deputy Secretary General welcomed delegates with a short outline of OECD work and interests. The common point made by all was that the OECD was keen to become more relevant to the work of parliamentarian in all member states, by providing in-depth research to support national policy development.

The presentations during the afternoon tended to focus on Europe, but offered enough of a world view to be of interest to the Canadian delegates. The OECD Deputy Secretary General and Chief Economist, Mr. Pier Carlo Padoan delivered an overview of the world economy. Although Canada’s situation is better than most, Mr. Padoan suggested that all countries should remain attentive to economic challenges because the world at large has not yet recovered from the 2008 downturn. He particularly cautioned against any inclination to adopt protectionist measures.

A presentation on international business ethics was presented by Ms. Caroline Ervin, Director of Financial and Enterprise Affairs, which centered on the OECD anti-bribery convention. She was followed by Mr. Marco Baroni, Senior Energy Analyst at the International Energy Agency, who provided an overview of the OECD world energy outlook.

Mr. Jon Lomoy, Director of Development and Cooperation outlined his thoughts on conflict and fragility. He made the specific point that food security was once again becoming a problematic issue in developing countries. World food prices are rising to levels that might put a variety of staples beyond the reach of poorer people. This could result in instability and conflict in the very areas and among the people who are most vulnerable. Developed nations would then most likely be called upon again to undertake humanitarian and peace-building missions.

On February 24, delegates participated in a High Level OECD Parliamentary Seminar was held on the topic of The OECD at 50: Better Policies for Better Lives. Presentations focused on the research power of the OECD secretariat and what it could do for parliamentarians.

The OECD is eager to provide more direct and systematic engagement with parliamentarians, which would entail a genuine two-way dialogue. The aim is to inform national policy debates, throughout the legislative process and during oversight of implementation. It is felt that parliamentarians can benefit from OECD analysis and recommendations on specific issues of interest being pursued by governments. Data and studies provided by the OECD can also serve challenge or complement information parliamentarians get from other sources. For example, the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention informed the House of Lords debate on UK bribery legislation in 2009. Equally, parliamentarians’ expertise and direct link with constituency issues can help enrich the OECD’s monitoring of trends in member countries.

OECD staff encouraged development of an informal OECD Parliamentary Network which could facilitate and improve the efficiency of information flow, to inform parliamentarians of OECD work and, in turn, to alert the OECD of pending national policy issues that correspond with OECD work. OECD staff would then be better informed of the concrete interests of parliamentarians.

Respectfully submitted,