16 May 2011 - PARLIAMENTARIANS DISCUSS TECHNOLOGICAL CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS TO ALLIANCE SECURITY IN VISIT TO GERMANY

Meeting with German government and military officials, leading think tank experts and private companies in the Berlin and Munich areas, the delegation discussed biological and chemical threats to Euro-Atlantic and global security; the military-technological aspect of the NATO mission in Afghanistan, in particular Improvised Explosive Devices and unmanned military systems; and food and water security. 

The delegation heard from an official of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety about the re-examination of Germany ’s energy policy as a result of the nuclear incidents at the Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear plant in the wake of the double catastrophe of the 11 March 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan.   

The delegation also received briefings on the challenges of and possible solutions to climate change; energy security in Europe; Weapons of Mass Destruction-terrorism; and cutting-edge science and technology that could impact the security environment of the future, for example revolutionary artificial oxygen carriers for blood replacement.  Members also toured an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) factory and the German site for the production of the Eurofighter and for refurbishment of NATO AWACS. Furthermore, the NATO PA delegation took the opportunity to visit the NATO School in Oberammergau, which provides education and training in support of NATO operations to civilians and military officials from NATO and partner nations as well as international organizations.