Euro-Atlantic Security: More Than Just a Military Matter

In December 1956, the foreign ministers of Canada, Italy, and Norway produced a report that made a number of bold recommendations about how NATO could—and should—become a genuine forum for political consultation and open discussion. In 2016, as Euro-Atlantic security is tested by a unique mix of challenges, from a fraught relationship with Russia to terrorism to cyberattacks, these proposals are as pertinent as they were sixty years ago.

Marking the 60th anniversary of the landmark Three Wise Men report, this event gathered 100 international diplomats, EU officials, think tank representatives, and media in Brussels to look at how transatlantic unity can be strengthened through greater nonmilitary cooperation within NATO. It kicked off with a keynote address by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, followed by a Q&A session moderated by Carnegie Europe’s Judy Dempsey.

A lively panel discussion followed to launch Dempsey’s paper, entitled “From Suez to Syria: Why NATO Must Strengthen Its Political Role.” NATO Deputy Secretary General Rose Gottemoeller provided closing remarks.

Video

Keynote Address by NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg

Closing Remarks by NATO Deputy Secretary General Rose Gottemoeller

Audio

Photos

Agenda

9:15 – 9:45 a.m
Registration and Coffee

9:45 – 10:00 a.m.
Welcome and Introductory Remarks

With remarks by
Knut Hauge, Permanent Representative of Norway to NATO
Claudio Bisogniero, Permanent Representative of Italy to NATO
Kerry Buck, Permanent Representative of Canada to NATO
—together with Michael Pearson, grandson of Lester B. Pearson

10:00 – 10:45 a.m.
Keynote Address

By
Jens Stoltenberg, Secretary General of NATO
Q&A moderated by
Judy Dempsey, Nonresident Senior Associate at Carnegie Europe and Editor in Chief of the Strategic Europe blog

10:45 – 11:00 a.m.
Coffee Break

11:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Panel Discussion: “From Suez to Syria: Why NATO Must Strengthen Its Political Role​”
With remarks by
Judy Dempsey, Nonresident Senior Associate at Carnegie Europe and Editor in Chief of the Strategic Europe blog
Paal Sigurd Hilde, Associate Professor, Center for Norwegian and European Security at the Norwegian Institute for Defense Studies
Roland Paris, University Research chair in International Security and Governance at the University of Ottawa
Stefano Stefanini, former Ambassador to NATO and Diplomatic Adviser to the President of Italy and Senior Nonresident Fellow with the Atlantic Council
Moderated by Paul Taylor, Contributing Editor, POLITICO

12:15 – 12:30 p.m
Closing Remarks

By
Rose Gottemoeller, Deputy Secretary General of NATO

Carnegie Europe would like to thank the Permanent Representatives of Canada, Italy, and Norway to NATO as well as NATO’s Public Diplomacy Division for their role in the organization and delivery of this event.