NATO Parliamentary Assembly (P.A. NATO)

The NATO Parliamentary Assembly (NATO P.A.) was founded in 1955. Members of Parliament from 28 countries participate in the NATO P.A. with full member status. They discuss matters of common interest, regarding security and defence. Albeit its full independency from the general NATO structure, the Assembly constitutes a link between national parliaments and the Alliance. It aims at encouraging Member states’ governments to take into account NATO’s concerns and interests, when promoting relevant legislative acts at national level, as well as at promoting the aims of the Alliance and solidarity between national parliaments. 

Parliaments of countries which are not members of NATO can participate in the Assembly with an Associate Member, Observer or Guest Parliamentary Observer status. Given the fact that Cyprus does not participate in NATO, the relations between the House of Representatives and the NATO P.A. are not, to date, institutionalised, but have been developed on an ad-hoc basis, since 1992. Delegations of the House participate, following a relevant invitation, to individual Assembly Plenary sessions and from 1996 onwards, on a more regular basis, in Mediterranean Dialogue Seminars, with a Parliamentary Observer status. 

The House is usually represented in the above-mentioned events by the Chairpersons or Members of the Standing Committees on Foreign and European Affairs and/or Defence. 

The Mediterranean Dialogue Seminars are organized twice a year by the Mediterranean and Middle East Special Group, which was founded in 1996, with the participation of Parliamentarians from all NATO member states. Cyprus and Malta, which do not have a formal status with the NATO P.A. are invited, following the approval of the President of the Assembly, noting however that the invitation is beyond the scope of the institutionalized NATO Dialogue. 

Website: http://www.nato-pa.int/