Educational Programs

On the occasion of the Delegation from the Norwegian Business School training at ATA HQ in Brussels, ATA and the Norwegian Military Delegation gathered at Microsoft Innovation Center Brussels to build trust and confidence between government and consumers in the realm of CyberSecurity. ATA is working towards facilitating the development of best practices for transparency, openness, and innovation in the cyber realm through an effective dialogue between key stakeholders.

---

Opening Address Mr. Jason WISEMAN Secretary General, Atlantic Treaty Association First Session: Russian Hybrid Warfare Russia’s invasion of Crimea in 2014 demonstrated an unprecedented willingness to pursue its geopolitical goals through the use of military force. At the same time, Russia has actively worked to undermine the West through a program of misinformation, political interference, and cyber attacks. In response to this threat, NATO has established an enhanced forward presence in the Black Sea region. NATO must implement a cohesive strategy to deter Russian aggression and reduce insecurity along the Alliance’s Eastern flank. With this in mind, looking toward the NATO Special Meeting in May, panelists will assess how the Alliance can adapt to the emerging threat in the East. Chairman and Introduction Mr. Jason WISEMAN Secretary General, Atlantic Treaty Association Remarks Mr. Bruno LETE Transatlantic Fellow, Security and Defense, German Marshall Fund Mr. Wojciech DANECKI Head of Unit, Foreign Affairs, Human Rights. Security & Defence, European Conservatives and Reformists Group *** Second Session: Cooperation In The Fight Against Terrorism Combating the internationall threat posed by ISIS and other terrorist organizations will require deep cooperation among European countries and the United States. Specifically, the Trans-atlantic partnership must coordinate the work of various law enforcement agencies and facilitate greater information sharing among its members. It is important to implement a proactive strategy that emphasizes both counter-terrorism and deradicalisation. With this two-pronged approach, Europe and the United States can work to disrupt terrorist organizations abroad while preventing homegrown terrorism within their borders. In this panel, participants will explore potential ways to increase cooperation among EU member states, and discuss how the Trans-Atlantic community can cooperate in the fight against terrorism. Remarks Comm. Saad AMRANI Deputy Police Commissioner of Brussels Mr. Guy STESSENS Head of Unit, DG D 1C: Police and Customs Cooperation *** Visit to Microsoft Third Session: Cyber-Security: The New Defence-Offence Mean  Existing cyber policy varies significantly between nations and international organizations. The security of the cyber arena is necessary to protect our society. Therefore, cybersecurity is a top priority for NATO and the EU. To this end, NATO and the EU have enhanced their cooperation on Cyber Security, implementing the objectives set in the recent EU Global Strategy and NATO Warsaw Summit Declaration. Within this framework the expertise provided by the private sector is increasingly relevant. With the opportunity to visit Microsoft office space in Brussels, the delegation will receive briefings on the role and contribution that large companies such as Microsoft can provide, both at policy and operational level. With a focus on the cyber security domain, delegates will receive key knowledge regarding protocols and beahviour to adopt when using the internet and the best ways to avoid negative consequences in terms of privacy violations and phishing as well as identity theft.   Chairman and Introduction Mr. Alessandro NIGLIA Senior Program Officer, Atlantic Treaty Association Remarks Mr. Maciej SUROWIEC Manager EU Institutional Relations, Microsoft Mr. Mark SMITHAM Senior Manager of Cybersecurity Policy, EU Government Affairs, Microsoft

On February 9, an ATA Delegation was invited to NATO Headquarter to take part in the quarterly seminar BRIEF THE BRIEFERS. The full day program aims to bring together NATO officials and ATA representatives to better coordinate the strategic communication on our joint ATA-NATO priorities. "Brief the Briefers" is targeted at ATA members who play an active role in the dialogue on transatlantic defense and security, who have demonstrated their continued added value to the ATA network and whose activities exhibit a great level of impact in their respective countries. This year,  H.E. Amb. Tacan ILDEM, Assistant Secretary General of the Public Diplomacy Division Section, welcomed a Delegation of 16 ATA members to discuss the critical points of NATO engagement for 2017. Following the outcomes of the Warsaw Summit, this seminar focused on key NATO issues ranging from NATO’s Defense and Deterrence Capability to Projecting Stability beyond borders, with a particular emphasis on NATO-Russia relations and emerging cyber threats. 

The ATA program titled ‘Brief the Briefers’ aims to give influential ATA Members up-to date and detailed information on NATO’s most pressing issues for 2016-2017 so the knowledge can be inserted into the various programs taking place throughout the ATA network over the next 12 months. “Brief the Briefers” is targeted at ATA members who play an active role in the dialogue on transatlantic defense and security, who have demonstrated their continued added value to the ATA network, meet their constitutional and financial obligations to ATA, and whose activities exhibit a great level of impact in their respective countries. This events were the occasion for ATA members to engage with NATO heads of divisions and key experts to get a clear understanding of recent developments related to Trident Juncture, Open Door Policy, Collective Defense and the Warsaw Summit agenda.

The ATA program titled ‘Brief the Briefers’ aims to give influential ATA Members up-to date and detailed information on NATO’s most pressing issues for 2016-2017 so the knowledge can be inserted into the various programs taking place throughout the ATA network over the next 12 months. “Brief the Briefers” is targeted at ATA members who play an active role in the dialogue on transatlantic defense and security, who have demonstrated their continued added value to the ATA network, meet their constitutional and financial obligations to ATA, and whose activities exhibit a great level of impact in their respective countries. This events were the occasion for ATA members to engage with NATO heads of divisions and key experts to get a clear understanding of recent developments related to Trident Juncture, Open Door Policy, Collective Defense and the Warsaw Summit agenda.

On October 15th, a selected group of ATA members took part in a day of briefings at NATO Headquarters for a new ATA program titled ‘Brief the Briefers’. This program aims to give influential ATA Members up-to date and detailed information on NATO’s most pressing issues for 2015-2016 so the knowledge can be inserted into the various programs taking place throughout the ATA network over the next 12 months. "Brief the Briefers" is targeted at ATA members who play an active role in the dialogue on transatlantic defense and security, who have demonstrated their continued added value to the ATA network, meet their constitutional and financial obligations to ATA, and whose activities exhibit a great level of impact in their respective countries. This event was the occasion for ATA members to engage with NATO heads of divisions and key experts to get a clear understanding of recent developments related to Trident Juncture, Open Door Policy, Collective Defense and the Warsaw Summit agenda.

The Atlantic Council of Croatia successfully held traditional 14th International Summer School in Sipan, Croatia, 26 June – 1 July 2015, in cooperation with NATO PDD and International Institute for Peace. The School was divided into two topics: Mediterranean between Europe and Middle East: Challenges and Perspectives, organized with the support of NATO Public Diplomacy Division; and another topic was: Western Balkans between Integration and Isolation, co-organized with the International Institute for Peace, Vienna.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vkJHH77fUM[/embed]

---

Atlantic Treaty Association (ATA) - Secretariat

NATO Head Quarter, Brussels, Belgium 12 June 2015  Coordination: Cristiano Bellini & Maria Mundt Participants: 20 young professionals from South and Eastern Europe and Caucasus.

---

  The Atlantic Treaty Association (ATA) has hosted a "Social Media Training" for the Youth Atlantic Treaty Association (YATA) young professionals at NATO HQ on the 12th June 2015. The event was addressed to 20 young leaders, from the Balkans, Southern Europe and Eastern Europe, that engaged in a series of briefings on NATO messaging, current agenda, and social media training. Relying on our previous years of success in building and supporting a wide and connected network of young professional in NATO member and partner countries, ATA has organised this Social Media training to empower YATA members in spreading NATO messages towards online public and post-Cold war generations in their respective countries. Thus, YATA Social Media Training will not only foster a better understanding of the Alliance’s objectives and missions among young professionals but also train them in communicating clearly NATO’s policies and messages to make the Alliance as accessible as possible to online communities. During the training, ATA created a space for the active participation of the attending young professionals to engage in an exchange of ideas, expertise and experience between the young professionals and senior NATO officials. Apart from directly linking YATA young professionals from NATO member and partner countries, YATA Social Media Training has also given young participants the possibility to learn how to deliver NATO messages and NATO objectives through digital platforms. The topics of the sessions were shaped by the topics of NATO current agenda to ensure that the Alliance’s priorities could be addressed effectively by youth. By adding the youth component to the NATO social media strategy, dev.atahq.orgill seek to close the generation gap in NATO’s outreach.  

---

PROGRAM

---

 

Welcome remarks and NATO’s Current Agenda

- Mr Zsolt Rabai, Programme Officer, Engagements Section, Public Diplomacy Division

Workshop 1 – Readiness Action Plan

- Mr Andrew Budd, Defence Capabilities Section, Defence Policy and Planning Division

Workshop 2 – The Ukraine Crisis and NATO-Russia Relations

- Dr Petr Lunák, Deputy Head, Engagements Section, Public Diplomacy Division

 

Workshop 3 – Crisis on NATO’s Southern Border

- Mr Rolf Schwarz, Middle East and North Africa Section, Political Affairs and Security Policy Division

Training Session 1 – Social Media Integration and Campaigns for Events

- Mr Axel De Mil, Social Media Coordinator, Communications Services, Public Diplomacy Division

- Ms. K. Knickle, Public Affairs and Strategic Communications, Public Diplomacy Division

  Training Session 2 – Social Media Measurement and Assessment - Mr Franky Saegerman, Head, Social Media Unit, Communications Services, Public Diplomacy Division  

---

Keynote Address to the ATA Council

H.E. Ambassador Alexander Vershbow,

Deputy Secretary General

---

Concluding remarks

Youth Ministerial Meetings: Presentation of Policy Recommendations by Mr. Daniel Fazlic, Youth Ministerial Delegate

 

The Atlantic Council of Croatia successfully held traditional 14th International Summer School in Sipan, Croatia, 26 June – 1 July 2015, in cooperation with NATO PDD and International Institute for Peace. The School was divided into two topics: Mediterranean between Europe and Middle East: Challenges and Perspectives, organized with the support of NATO Public Diplomacy Division; and another topic was: Western Balkans between Integration and Isolation, co-organized with the International Institute for Peace, Vienna.