In meeting with North Atlantic Council, Allied legislators stress need for transatlantic unity, increased European defence contributions, and continued support for Ukraine

“NATO remains the cornerstone and guarantor of our collective defence and shared democratic values,” stressed Marcos Perestrello, President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (NATO PA), when addressing a meeting of the North Atlantic Council (NAC) and the Assembly’s leadership. “The remarkable commitment enshrined in the Washington Treaty has kept our people safe for 75 years. It has kept Europe safe. And it has kept North America safe too.”

“Europe and North America have overcome their differences in the past. We can do so again today,” he stressed.

Each February, the Permanent Representatives to the NAC and the NATO PA Standing Committee meet under the joint chairpersonship of the NATO PA President and the NATO Secretary General.

Addressing the issue of transatlantic burden-sharing, President Perestrello made clear that “the United States is right to expect that Europe and Canada should do more.”

“We are now on the right track to meeting the 2% target. But we should have recognised earlier that 2% is not enough. And that spending 2% does not automatically translate in delivering the capabilities we need for our defence. We must now correct that mistake,” he noted.

Referring to Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine, Mr Perestrello called on the Allies “to reaffirm our unwavering support for Ukraine, its sovereignty, territorial integrity, right to self-defence and self-determination and to live in peace” and to work together and with Ukraine on a peace deal that guarantees Ukraine’s and Europe’s security, prevents future aggression, and deters other autocrats.

“The Ukrainians are fighting for our democratic values and for our security, we cannot turn our backs on them.”

“As parliamentarians, we are on the frontline of the struggle to defend our democratic way of life. NATO must be too,” the President added.

“This is why, for six years now, the Assembly has called for the establishment of a Centre for Democratic Resilience at this headquarters. Not to point fingers at each other. But to share best practices, on a voluntary basis, on how to deal with threats from outside.”

Participants also discussed a range of other topics high on NATO’s agenda, as the Alliance prepares for The Hague Summit, including:

• NATO's deterrence and defence plans
• Defence spending targets
• NATO support for Ukraine
• NATO-EU cooperation
• Security in the Arctic and Baltic regions and in the Southern Neighbourhood

The meeting with the NAC is part of the Assembly’s Joint Committee Meetings, which take place each February in Brussels. These annual meetings are key opportunities for Allied legislators to engage with NATO leaders, national officials, and key experts. The meetings are not open to the public.

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The NATO Parliamentary Assembly is institutionally separate from NATO but serves as an essential link between NATO and the parliaments of the NATO nations. It provides greater transparency of NATO policies and fosters better understanding of the Alliance’s objectives and missions among legislators and citizens of the Alliance.