28 September 2011 - PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION VISITS THE NATO CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE ON COUNTER-IED NEAR MADRID

The sub-committee members had the unique opportunity to visit the NATO Centre of Excellence on Counter-Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) in Hoyo de Manzanares, where a multinational team of experts provides NATO and its partner nations with expertise on fighting the challenge of IEDs.  The new centre, which received its accreditation less than a year ago, currently draws on experts from five countries, withSpainas the lead nation.  The parliamentarians discussed the current state of Counter-IED within NATO with the centre’s director, in particular regarding efforts inAfghanistan, and received a first-hand look at current IED technologies employed by insurgents and terrorist organizations.

Another focus of the visit was satellite technologies and their contribution to international security.  At the European Union Satellite Centre (EUSC), the delegation learned about the crucial contribution the EUSC makes by providing briefing notes, reports and maps to the EU, NATO and third nations, for example in treaty verification and non-proliferation efforts, evacuation planning and operational support to missions such as EUNAVFOR – Somalia.  Also, the sub-committee was granted a look at possible future avenues for European satellites, including surveillance of space debris and sun activity. In other meetings, the satellite operator HISPASAT provided the delegates with an overview of their commercial and security-related satellite programs.

Moreover, the delegation met with Spanish government and military officials and discussed a diverse range of issues, including climate change,Spain’s strategy to foster renewable energy and cyber defence.  The delegation also had the privilege of visiting the La Marañosa Institute of Technology of the Spanish Army, which opened its research and development facilities on the defence against weapons of mass destruction to the delegates.