NATO's Parlamentariske Forsamling 2019-20
NPA Alm.del Bilag 24
Offentligt
2176046_0001.png
NATO FOREIGN
MINISTERS’ MEETING,
2 APRIL 2020
Policy Brief
077 SPE 20 E | Original: English | 6 April 2020
This Policy Brief is presented for information only and does not
represent the official view of the Assembly.
 NPA, Alm.del - 2019-20 - Bilag 24: Policy Brief - NATO Foreign Ministers' Meeting - 2 April 2020
2176046_0002.png
077 SPE 20 E
NATO FOREIGN MINISTERS’ MEETING, 2 APRIL 2020: KEY TAKEAWAYS
Top of the agenda:
NATO’s
response to the COVID-19 pandemic
NATO Foreign Ministers agreed to:
•
reinforce NATO’s
response to the COVID-19 pandemic;
•
launch the
Reflection Process
to further strengthen NATO’s political role;
•
expand
activities in the NATO Training Mission
–
Iraq
(training and education);
•
enhance
partnerships with Georgia and Ukraine
(exercises, countering hybrid threats,
situational awareness); and
•
strengthen
cooperation with the United Nations
(peacekeeper training).
Notable points:
•
NATO remains
fully focused and ready on core tasks:
“NATO’s
core responsibility is to
make sure that this
health crisis doesn’t become a security crisis”
(Jens Stoltenberg).
•
Ministers discussed next steps to support stability in the
Middle East and North Africa.
•
Troop reductions in
Afghanistan
will remain conditions based, Jens Stoltenberg stressed.
•
This was the first ministerial meeting with
North Macedonia
as an Ally.
•
This was the first-ever meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers via video conference.
Next steps:
•
A
special Defence Ministers’ Meeting
will take place in mid-April to review decisions and
decide on further possible efforts in
response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
I.
•
•
•
NATO’S RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19
PANDEMIC
Faced with an unprecedented health crisis, ministers reviewed
actions already taken,
discussed
further requests
for support, and took
next steps.
They also issued a
Joint
Declaration.
NATO’s initial and main focus has been on preventing contamination among NATO staff
and
military personnel and ensuring
business and operational continuity:
NATO remains fully
focused on and ready to perform its core tasks
(collective defence,
crisis management, and cooperative security). In the words of the NATO Secretary General,
“NATO’s
core responsibility is to make sure that this health crisis doesn’t become a security
crisis”.
Even though some military activities have been affected, NATO military medical staff remain
vigilant, and NATO is monitoring the impact for troops deployed on operations.
Allies are also working together in:
o
providing each other with
medical professionals, hospital beds, and medical
equipment
including through the Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre;
o
providing, coordinating, or facilitating
military airlift
for delivering medical equipment
from within and outside NATO;
o
harnessing
medical, scientific, and technological knowledge and resources;
and
o
ensuring public access to information about COVID-19, which is transparent, timely, and
accurate, to
counter disinformation and propaganda efforts
during the crisis.
For more information and concrete example of bilateral and NATO assistance to Allies, see
the NATO factsheet
NATO’s Response to the COVID-19
Pandemic.
Ministers decided on the following next steps:
o
NATO SACEUR General Tod D. Wolters will
coordinate the necessary military
support
in the COVID-19 crisis and
facilitate military flights through European
airspace.
1
•
•
•
•
 NPA, Alm.del - 2019-20 - Bilag 24: Policy Brief - NATO Foreign Ministers' Meeting - 2 April 2020
2176046_0003.png
077 SPE 20 E
o
o
o
NATO will, for example, identify the
necessary airlift capacity, coordinate on surplus
capacity or stocks, better match requests
for support with offers from Allies and
partners.
NATO will organise a
special Defence Ministers’ Meeting
in mid-April to review
decisions and decide on further possible efforts.
NATO will examine the
medium- and long-term implications
of the health crisis, for
example on
resilience, civil preparedness, and the geostrategic environment.
II.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
REFLECTION PROCESS
Ministers launched the
Reflection Process
to further strengthen NATO’s political role.
The process will lead to recommendations on how to
reinforce Alliance unity, increase
political consultation and coordination, and strengthen NATO’s political role.
The NATO Secretary General chose 5 women and 5 men for a
Group of Experts
among
nominations from Allies (see appendix 1). Experts do not represent their countries, however.
Thomas de Maizière
(Germany) and
Wess Mitchell
(United States) co-chair the Group.
The Group will engage with capitals, the North Atlantic Council, and other relevant
stakeholders and
report back to the Secretary General.
The NATO Secretary General will then deliver his own recommendations to Allies
before the
2021 NATO Summit
(Dates TBD).
This process is similar to the one used for the elaboration of the 2010 Strategic Concept, which
involved a group of experts led by Madeleine Albright.
THE NATO PA & THE REFLECTION PROCESS
The
NATO PA is a key stakeholder,
as the NATO Secretary General made clear during
the joint meeting of the North Atlantic Council-NATO PA in February.
After consultations with the Bureau, the NATO PA Secretary General will deliver
a roadmap
for the NATO PA contribution to the Reflection Process.
•
•
III.
•
•
PARTNERSHIPS ACROSS THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA
Ministers discussed next steps in
counter terrorism efforts, building stability,
and
strengthening partnerships
in the Middle East and North Africa.
Among the options are further
defence reforms and capacity building, NATO-led
counter-terrorism
exercises,
and
deeper partnerships
(for example with the African Union).
NATO MISSION IN IRAQ
Ministers decided to take on
additional activities under the NATO Mission in Iraq
to
strengthen Iraqi forces and prevent the return of Daesh and other terrorist groups.
These activities are currently conducted under the auspices of the Global Coalition and include
training and the education
of non-commissioned officers, engineers, and federal police.
The Iraqi authorities, the Global Coalition, and NATO are
in full consultations
on this transfer.
AFGHANISTAN
Ministers discussed the state of affairs in Afghanistan.
The NATO Secretary General welcomed efforts to set up an inclusive team for the
inter-
Afghan negotiations.
2
IV.
•
•
•
V.
•
•
 NPA, Alm.del - 2019-20 - Bilag 24: Policy Brief - NATO Foreign Ministers' Meeting - 2 April 2020
077 SPE 20 E
•
•
•
VI.
•
•
•
He called on the Taliban and all political actors to play their part, including a reduction in
violence.
As part of the 29 February deal between the United States and the Taliban, NATO will reduce
its troop presence from the current 16,000 to
12,000 personnel by mid-2020.
No further reduction was agreed. All further steps will remain
conditions based.
SUPPORT FOR GEORGIA AND UKRAINE
The meeting planned with Foreign Ministers of Georgia and Ukraine could not take place.
However, Ministers agreed to enhance NATO’s
partnerships with Georgia and Ukraine.
NATO will increase
exercises
with these countries in the black sea region, reinforce joint
efforts to
counter hybrid warfare,
and share more
air traffic radar data
with them.
DEEPENING PARTNERSHIP WITH THE UNITED NATIONS
The Alliance strengthened cooperation with the
United Nations (UN).
A new package of measures will
support un peacekeeper training
in the areas of medical
care, countering improvised explosive devices, and communications.
VII.
•
•
3
 NPA, Alm.del - 2019-20 - Bilag 24: Policy Brief - NATO Foreign Ministers' Meeting - 2 April 2020
2176046_0005.png
077 SPE 20 E
APPENDIX 1: BIOGRAPHIES OF THE GROUP OF EXPERTS IN
SUPPORT OF THE NATO SECRETARY GENERAL’S REFLECTION
PROCESS
CO-CHAIRPERSONS
THOMAS DE MAIZIÈRE (GERMANY)
Current positions:
•
Member of the Federal Parliament (since 2009), Germany
•
Chairman of Deutsche Telekom Stiftung, Germany
•
Honorary Professor, Constitutional Law, University of Leipzig, Germany
Recent career highlights:
•
Minister of the Interior, Germany
•
Minister of Defence, Germany
•
Deputy President of the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (Stiftung
Wissenschaft und Politik),
Germany
•
Chief of Staff, Federal Chancellor’s Office, Germany
•
Minister of the Interior of Saxony, Germany
•
Minister of Justice of Saxony, Germany
•
Minister of Finance of Saxony, Germany
Education:
•
•
PhD in Law, University of Münster, Germany
BA in Law and History from the University of Münster & University of Freiburg, Germany
WESS MITCHELL (UNITED STATES)
Current positions:
•
Vice Chairman, Center for European Policy Analysis, United States
•
Senior Advisor, US Institute of Peace, United States
•
Non-Resident Fellow, Applied History Project, Harvard University's Kennedy School of
Government, United States
Recent career highlights:
•
Assistant Secretary, European and Eurasian Affairs, Department of State, United States
•
Chairman, Europe Working Group, John Hay Initiative, United States
•
Adviser to the National Security Transition Team for the Mitt Romney Presidential Campaign,
United States
•
Co-Founder, Center for European Policy Analysis, United States
•
Research Associate, National Center for Policy Analysis, United States
Education:
•
PhD in Political Science, Otto Suhr Institute of Political Sciences, at Free University of Berlin,
Germany
4
 NPA, Alm.del - 2019-20 - Bilag 24: Policy Brief - NATO Foreign Ministers' Meeting - 2 April 2020
2176046_0006.png
077 SPE 20 E
•
•
MA from the Center for German and European Studies, Georgetown University’s Edmund A.
Walsh School of Foreign Service, United States
BA in History from Texas Tech University
OTHER MEMBERS
GRETA BOSSENMAIER (CANADA)
Current position:
•
retired from the Civil Service of Canada
Recent career highlights:
•
National Security and Intelligence Adviser to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Canada
•
Chief, Communications Security Establishment, Government of Canada
•
Senior Associate Deputy Minister, International Development, Government of Canada
•
Deputy Minister, Afghanistan Task Force, Privy Council Office, Government of Canada
•
Associate Deputy Minister, Foreign Affairs, Government of Canada
•
Executive Vice-President, Canada Border Services Agency, Government of Canada
•
Vice-President, Innovation, Science and Technology, Canada Border Services Agency,
Government of Canada
•
Chief Information Officer and Director General, Foreign Affairs and International Trade,
Government of Canada
Education:
•
•
Master of Science, Operational Research, School of Engineering, Stanford University
Bachelor of Commerce, Faculty of Management, University of Manitoba
ANJA DALGAARD-NIELSEN (DENMARK)
Current positions:
•
Director, Institute for Strategy, Royal Danish Defence College, Denmark
•
Professor, Centre for Risk Management and Societal Safety, University of Stavanger, Norway
•
Consulting Scholar/Affiliate, Center for International Security and Cooperation (CISAC),
Stanford University, United States
Recent career highlights:
•
Board-level Director, Danish Security and Intelligence Service (PET), Denmark
•
Head of Research Unit, Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS), Denmark
•
Senior Researcher/Researcher, Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS), Denmark
Education:
•
•
•
PhD from Johns Hopkins University SAIS, United States
MA in Political Science from the University of Aarhus, Denmark
MA in Public Management and Governance from Copenhagen Business School, Denmark
5
 NPA, Alm.del - 2019-20 - Bilag 24: Policy Brief - NATO Foreign Ministers' Meeting - 2 April 2020
2176046_0007.png
077 SPE 20 E
HUBERT VÉDRINE (FRANCE)
Current positions:
•
Founder, Hubert Védrine Conseil, France
•
President of the François Mitterrand Institute, France
•
Member of the Board of Directors, LVMH, France
•
Member of the Board of Directors, French Institute for International and Strategic Affairs (IRIS),
France
Recent career highlights:
•
Author of the 2012
Report for the President of the French Republic on the Consequences of
France’s Return TO NATO’s Integrated Military Command, on the Future of Transatlantic
Relations, and the Outlook for the Europe of Defence
•
Minister of Foreign Affairs, France
Education:
•
•
National School of Administration (
Ecole Nationale d’Administration),
France
BA in History from the Paris Institute of Political Studies (SciencesPo), France
MARTA DASSÙ (ITALY)
Current positions:
•
Senior Director, European Affairs, The Aspen Institute, Italy
•
Member of the Board of Directors, Finmeccanica, Italy
•
Member of the Board of Directors, Trevi Finanziaria, Italy
•
Member of the Board of Directors, Fondazione eni Enrico Mattei, Italy
•
Member of the Board of the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR)
•
Vice President, The Centre for American Studies in Rome, Italy
•
Member of Advisory Council, European Institute of Peace (EIP), Belgium
•
Member of Strategic Council, European Policy Centre (EPC), Belgium
•
Member of the Board, International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), UK
•
Member of Board of Directors, Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI), Italy
•
Member of the Scientific Committee, LUISS School of Government, Italy
Recent career highlights:
•
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Italy
Education:
•
Contemporary History at the Universita degli Studi di Firenze, Italy
HERNA VERHAGEN (THE NETHERLANDS)
Current positions:
•
CEO, PostNL, The Netherlands
6
 NPA, Alm.del - 2019-20 - Bilag 24: Policy Brief - NATO Foreign Ministers' Meeting - 2 April 2020
2176046_0008.png
077 SPE 20 E
•
•
•
•
•
Chairman, Remuneration Committee & member, Nomination and Corporate Governance
Committee, ING, The Netherlands,
Non-executive board member & chairwoman of the nomination committee of Rexel, The
Netherlands
Supervisory board member of Goldschmeding Foundation, The Netherlands
Supervisory board member, member of the nomination committee & member of the funding
committee, Het Concertgebouw, The Netherlands
Board member, VNO-NCW, The Netherlands
Recent career highlights:
•
Vice Chairman-Supervisory Board, SRH, The Netherlands
•
Director, PostNL, The Netherlands
•
Member of Management Board, PostNL, The Netherlands
•
Managing Director, TNT Post, The Netherlands
•
Managing Director of HR, TNT Post, The Netherlands
Education:
•
•
MA in Law from Nijmegen University, The Netherlands
MA in Human Resources from Tilburg University, The Netherlands
ANNA ELZBIETA FOTYGA (POLAND)
Current positions:
•
Member of the European Parliament (Member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs & its
Subcommittee on Security and Defence of the European Parliament)
•
Member of the Delegation of the European Parliament to the NATO PA
Recent career highlights:
•
Chair, Subcommittee on Security and Defence, the European Parliament, Belgium
•
Member of the Delegation of Poland to the NATO PA
•
Chief, Chancellery of the President, Poland
•
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Poland
•
Deputy Mayor, Gdansk, Poland
•
Foreign Affairs Adviser to the Prime Minister, Poland
Education:
•
•
University of Gdansk, Poland
Danish School of Public Administration, Denmark
TACAN ILDEM (TURKEY)
Current positions:
•
Retired Ambassador, Turkey
Recent career highlights :
•
Assistant Secretary General for Public Diplomacy, NATO, Belgium
7
 NPA, Alm.del - 2019-20 - Bilag 24: Policy Brief - NATO Foreign Ministers' Meeting - 2 April 2020
2176046_0009.png
077 SPE 20 E
•
•
•
•
•
Permanent Representative of Turkey to the OSCE, Austria
Director General for International Security Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Turkey
Turkey’s Permanent Representative to NATO, Belgium
Ambassador of Turkey to the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Chief of Cabinet and Principal Foreign Policy Advisor to the President of the Republic of Turkey
Education:
•
Political Science Faculty, Ankara University
JOHN BEW (UK)
Current positions:
•
Professor in History and Foreign Policy, War Studies Department, King’s College London, UK
•
Number 10 Policy Unit (for the Prime Minister), UK
Recent career highlights:
•
Henry A. Kissinger Chair in Foreign Policy, John W. Kluge Center, US Library of Congress,
United States
•
Co-Director,
International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation and Political Violence, King’s
College London, UK
•
Lecturer, Modern British History, Harris Fellow and Director of Studies at Peterhouse,
Cambridge University, UK
Education:
•
•
•
PhD, Pembroke College, Cambridge, UK
MPhil in Historical Studies, Pembroke College, Cambridge, UK
BA in History, Pembroke College, Cambridge, UK
______________________
8