NATO’s political challenges in the period leading up to the summit in Warsaw topped the list of items on the agenda during the NATO PA’s Spring Session in Tirana, Albania, on 27^th to 30^th  May.

At the session, the assembly adopted a comprehensive declaration of recommendations for the forthcoming NATO Summit in Warsaw. A central element of the declaration was to call for increased dialogue with Russia to ease tension and reduce the risk of conflict, while still condemning Russia's violations of international law.

During the debate with NATO’s Deputy Secretary-General, Alexander Vershbow, Halleraker expressed his concern over Russia’s growing disregard for maritime boundaries in the High North. He called on Mr Vershbow to raise the issue of NATO’s maritime strategy at the Warsaw Summit.

“Developments in the North Atlantic are vital for the alliance; they may challenge the very essence of the transatlantic relationship – the sea routes over the Atlantic Ocean,” Halleraker said to those gathered.

Sverre Myrli (Labour Party, Deputy Head of the Norwegian Delegation) was elected Vice President of the assembly in Tirana. One of his primary responsibilities in the period ahead will be to promote the role of the NATO PA with its international partners.

“I’m really looking forward to dealing with different security issues in such challenging times. The refugee situation is of pressing concern, as is security policy in general, and all indications show that the European NATO members will have to take greater responsibility for their own security in the future. I’m particularly looking forward to building up parliamentary cooperation on these issues with colleagues from countries in the Middle East and around the Mediterranean,” Myrli said after his election.

Jan Arild Ellingsen (Progress Party), chairman of the NATO PA’s Science and Technology Committee, had unanimous backing in the committee for an initiative to increase collaboration with NATO in the fields of technological cooperation and development.

“The alliance has lost its technological head start. It’s crucial that we collaborate on a broader front to gain greater understanding of the technological trends that have the potential to disrupt the global strategic balance, and to see what NATO’s position is in relation to these trends,” Ellingsen said.

The Norwegian Delegation at the Spring Session in Tirana comprised Øyvind Halleraker (Conservative Party, Head of Delegation), Sverre Myrli (Labour Party), Ingunn Foss (Conservative Party), Jan Arild Ellingsen (Progress Party) and Liv Signe Navarsete (Centre Party).