The Committees produce reports on critical issues affecting the Alliance and prepare Policy Recommendations for consideration by the Assembly in Plenary Session. If adopted by the full Assembly, the Policy Recommendations are forwarded, as appropriate, to member and associate member parliaments and governments, NATO authorities, and other international organizations.

As well as dealing with reports, the Committees receive briefings from senior government officials, leaders of international organizations and other experts. The meetings also provide a forum for dialogue and debate among the parliamentary delegates.

All the Committees meet during the spring and autumn Assembly Sessions. The Defence and Security, Economics and Security, and Political Committees also hold an annual joint meeting in Brussels for briefings by senior NATO and EU officials. In addition, each year the Economics and Security Committee meets at OECD headquarters in Paris, and one of the five Committees holds a meeting in North America. Other Committee meetings take place on an ad hoc basis.

The Committees also have Sub-Committees to explore specific issues in more detail. The Committees and their associated Sub-Committees are listed below.

The list also includes the Mediterranean Special Group which focuses on Mediterranean issues. This Group meets three times a year and produces reports. It does not meet during Sessions.


Committee on the Civil Dimension of Security
Sub-Committee on Democratic Governance

Defence and Security Committee
Sub-Committee on Transatlantic Defence and Security Co-operation
Sub-Committee on Future Security and Defence Capabilities

Committee on Economics and Security
Sub-Committee on East-West Economic Co-operation and Convergence
Sub-Committee on Transatlantic Economic Relations

Political Committee
Sub-Committee on Transatlantic Relations
Sub-Committee on NATO Partnerships

Science and Technology Committee
Sub-Committee on Energy and Environmental Security

Mediterranean and Middle East Special Group

The Sub-Committees meet several times a year on fact-finding missions designed to gather information for Sub-Committee and Committee reports.

Sub-Committee reports, like those produced directly for the Committees, are amended and adopted by majority vote in the Committees.