The Romanian Parliament will host, on October 6-9, the 63rd annual session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (NATO PA). More than 50 national parliamentary delegations of the Member States and associate, regional partner and Mediterranean associate and observer States, as well as guests from Romania and abroad will participate in the event. The talks will focus on several topical issues of international security. Specialized committees will adopt several reports that were debated during the spring session this year in Tbilisi, Georgia.

"Parliamentary activity plays an extremely important role in strengthening our country's position in the international political, economic and strategic structures and in promoting the major political objectives, the achievement of which is in line with the defense of national interests. Romania has allocated 2% of its GDP this year for defense spending. Our country holds a strategic position in the Black Sea area and intensifies its efforts and measures in support of defense and security, alongside its allies and partners, by honoring international commitments. At European level, in 2019, Romania will hold the presidency of the Council of the European Union, which will offer to the Black Sea region greater visibility on the European agenda", stated Liviu Dragnea, President of the Chamber of Deputies.

"Romania is located in the South-Eastern part of the Alliance territory, in an area confronted with multiple security challenges. Thus, from a geographical and historical perspective, our country is extremely well positioned to increase awareness among NATO members about the strategic importance of the developments in the Eastern and Black Sea region, but also to promote the values of the Alliance beyond its borders. As parliamentarians, we have a responsibility to ensure that NATO's agenda is permanently anchored in strategic realities, while responding to our citizens' concerns and expectations. We also have the duty to explain to the public the benefits and responsibilities deriving from NATO membership and the perenniality of the principles on which the Alliance is founded", stated the the President of the Senate, Mr. Călin Popescu-Tăriceanu.

The NATO Parliamentary Assembly is an important forum for international parliamentary dialogue. The annual NATO PA sessions are the most important events in the organization's work and are hosted by turns by the Member and Associated States. Romania also hosted meetings of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in 1997 and 2011.

The five specialized committees - the Political Committee, the Defense and Security Committee, the Science and Technology Committee, the Committee on the Civil Dimension of Security and the Economics and Security Committee - will debate a series of reports on security and defense issues, with specific topics to be discussed with the representatives of the governments from the member countries, the academic environment, representatives of civil society and NATO.

At the opening of the plenary session, scheduled on Monday 9 October 8.40* and chaired by NATO PA President Paolo Alli, the President of Romania, Mr. Klaus Iohannis, the President of the Senate, Mr. Călin Popescu Tăriceanu, the President of the Chamber of Deputies, Mr. Liviu Dragnea, and NATO Secretary General, Mr. Jens Stoltenberg will take the floor. On this occasion, the Assembly's draft budget for 2018 will be presented and voted, elections for some leading positions will be held and the resolutions of the specialized committees will be debated and voted.

* Speeches of Romanian officials will start at 9.00.

AGENDA