A N N U A L R E P O R T R E P O R T B Y 2 0 1 8 T H E A T L A N T I C T R E A T Y A S S O C I A T I O N A N N U A L R E P O R T 2 0 1 8 A publication of Atlantic Treaty Association Club Prince Albert Rue des Petits Carmes, 20-24 B- 1000 Bruxelles Tel: +32 2 502 31 60 Email: [email protected] Web: www.atahq.org 1 CONTENTS MISSION & VISION FOREWORDS ATA President ATA Secretary General NATO PUBLICATION GENERAL ASSEMBLY BUCHAREST ATA MEMBERS Albania Italy Armenia Lithuania Austria Montenegro Azerbaijan Netherlands Bosnia & Herzegovina North Macedonia Bulgaria Norway Canada Portugal Croatia Romania Estonia Serbia Georgia Slovakia Germany Slovenia Greece Spain Hungary Ukraine Iceland United States (US) Israel 2 MISSION & VISION The Atlantic Treaty Association (ATA) is an organization of 37 national chapters that, since 1954, has been conducting research, analyses, training, education, and information activities on foreign policy, security and defense issues relevant to the Atlantic Alliance. Relying on its extended and highly qualified network, ATA produces top- notch knowledge on strategic themes and promotes a variety of programs and events. ATA initiatives draw together government and institutional authorities, political leaders, decision-makers, diplomats, civilian and military officers, academics, economic actors, media representatives, as well as young professionals and researchers, in an effort to further a cooperative approach to security and international relations. 3 ATA has established cooperation programs with likeminded organizations in countries of the NATO Partnership for Peace, Mediterranean Dialogue and Istanbul Cooperation Initiative. ATA also engages likeminded partners in countries and regional entities which are not part of NATO formal partnership frameworks. ATA outreach extends to CentralEastern Europe and the Balkans, the Mediterranean and the broader Middle East region, the Caucasus and Asia. ATA attributes special relevance to the Youth Atlantic Treaty Association (YATA), with a view to preparing the new generation of Atlanticist leaders to face the challenges and threats of the present and future security scenario. YATA organizes seminars, training courses and study visits, as an effective way to strengthen the skills, expertise and sense of identity of the new generation of Atlanticist leaders. The ATA Secretariat is based in Brussels and coordinates the network of its 37 national Atlantic chapters and YATA activities. 4 ATA PRESIDENT FOREWORD President Foreword: It is a pleasure to introduce the 2018 Atlantic Treaty Association (ATA) Annual Report aimed to provide a comprehensive view on programs and activities carried out by the ATA in the past year. Since 1954, the ATA has promoted Atlantic values across generations and the civil societies of NATO Members and Partner Countries. Relying on its extended and highly qualified network of 37 Associations, the ATA is a multinational association able to translate security needs into concrete actions and cooperative security programmes. The ATA added value is represented by its role in bridging the divide between NATO and civil society throughout the Transatlantic region, with an impressive potential multiplier effect in reaching out to the wider public in different languages. The ATA offers information and educational programs pertaining to the Alliance’s activities to those who seek it. Furthermore, in 1996 the Youth ATA (YATA) was formed to create a space for the successor generation of policy-makers, diplomats and academics to begin to shape the Transatlantic Relationship. 5 ATA plays a pivotal role in fostering relationships between members and partner countries, and, as outlined in the Warsaw Summit Declaration, contributes "in promoting a better understanding of the Alliance among our nations." Going forward, the ATA continues its mission to expand the reach of the transatlantic ideals and to bring new people into the Atlantic family. While there is always more work to be done, our simultaneous top-down, bottom-up approach allows the inclusion of a much larger number of individuals than would otherwise be possible. By working with officials and industries to produce greater defense capabilities and closing the gaps in our security to better address key threats, such as terrorism, the ATA continues to make the difference in providing tangible solutions to decision makers. Looking at the forthcoming 70th anniversary of the Atlantic Alliance, the ATA is ready to complement the NATO 360-degree approach by adding a further degree of action. The ATA’s aim is to communicate the role of NATO and the Alliance’s enduring values to the public and successor generations. This represents a natural task for the ATA and its youth component (YATA), which strengthen the vital link between the Alliance and the civil societies of the Member Countries, promoting a highly transparent dialogue. 6 ATA SECRETARY GENERAL FOREWORD I am pleased to present the Annual report of the ATA, a Brussels-based network facilitator working to strengthen the transatlantic dialogue. I was elected ATA Secretary General on the occasion of the ATA General assembly in Bucharest, in September 2018 and I am pleased to present the work of the International Secretariat in order to provide a comprehensive view of its role and activities to support Members Associations during the past year. Since the Bucharest General Assembly, the Secretariat has been working to improve both internal and external communication efforts. Two main initiatives are the “Hot topics of the week”, a weekly thematical communication to the Members on current NATO related event or issue that affects the Alliance and the monthly internal newsletter highlighting current events & activities, as well as funding opportunities and upcoming deadlines. ATA HQ is working to make its internal and external communication more efficient, with the support of the integrated Communication Task Force. The association placed a sharper focus on the issues where the ATA’s involvement has a clear value added to the member associations and NATO, in relation to their further on-going processes and existing cooperation structures, whether at a national or regional level. 7 In the past ATA has increased its role in policy making, involving decision makers, military personnel, NATO and EU Officials, young professionals, media representatives and private companies. The ATA network disposes of a large intellectual reserve amongst individuals who make up the national chapters, as a variety of backgrounds and expertise make up these chapters, which can help transform the ATA into a proper think tank. For example, the ATA network added value is the possibility to engage in grassroots communications, which reaches a broader and wider audience than is typically reached through traditional approaches. In fact, the ATA bridges between NATO, Governments and civil society for enhanced transatlantic relations providing a unique platform for developing transatlantic coordinated and coherent approaches for improving the state of the international security and defense. In particular, ATA focused on several items like NATO-EU Cooperation, Transatlantic Cooperation in Defence and Investment, NATO-Russia relations, Countering disinformation and fake news, Women, Peace and Security and Youth Engagement, etc. Special focus has always been given to the successor generations, by increasing the financial support to YATA’ activities and assuring the partnership with the European Commission on YATA International meetings and providing additional public and private sponsors. As part of the Working plan presented to the General Assembly, the ATA established Task Forces on topical subjects gathering together ATA and YATA Members. So far, three TF have been created: on Women, Peace and Security, which is dedicated to empowering women and supporting balanced gender inclusiveness in the field of Security and Defense; ATA & YATA Integrated Communication Task Force, which focuses on the development of a common communication strategy and on maintaining efficient communication; and the Task Force on Disinformation and Malign Influence, which focuses on detecting cases of disinformation and malign influence, as well as providing ATA and YATA chapters with the necessary training to detect such influence. Thank you to all friends, colleagues and partners who have supported the Secretariat and its activities in the last months and I am confident our members and partners will support us in the future as well. 8 Among the wide range of communication activities, the ATA official publication is a traditional commitment, accompanying and outlining the agenda of the NATO Summits. In this respect, the 2018 edition titled "Strengthening Deterrence and Defense While Projecting Stability" assumes a special relevance as the Brussels Summit represents another milestone in NATO’s continuous adaptation to the evolving security environment. The ATA Official Summit Publication is available on the ATA website (https://bit.ly/2J6tyIR), and can be found in the dedicated section of the official NATO Summit Side Event – NATO Engages. Previous editions of the ATA Official Summit Publications are available on the ATA website. 9 GENERAL Chief of Defense Intelligence, the ASSEMBLY Former Minister of Defense, and the Former Foreign Minister. BUCHAREST Representatives from the academic and private sector participated during the public session. The three- day meeting enabled ATA delegates, The 64th General Assembly