Participants discussed a range of security issues, especially those most relevant to South-Eastern European countries, such as NATO-Russia relations, Euro-Atlantic integration, and the Alliance’s role in the broader Euro-Atlantic area. NATO’s strategic objectives, the new security environment, as well as operations and lessons learned were also discussed.
“NATO-Russia relations should be practically enhanced,” said Dr Marios Efthymiopoulos, General Director of Strategy International. “It is an opportunity with the new Strategic Concept to re-negotiate in practical terms NATO-Russia relations.” He added that, "Academics should be more involved in the policy-making field and not only at the consultation levels."
Speaking about challenges from newer means of communication, Director of Strategy International Josef Demergis said: "NATO partners and members of the Alliance may seek to become a security provider for the Internet, […] e.g. by creating preventive ‘blocking actions’ against imminent cyber threats."
The event’s participants will offer their conclusions to the Group of Experts tasked to prepare recommendations for the Alliance’s new Strategic Concept, a document that will shape NATO’s future “mission statement”. They agreed that the new Concept should be as clear as possible – short and to the point.
