The Spring Session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (PA) will be held from 28 May to 1 June in Riga, Latvia. Media representatives wishing to report on the event will need special accreditation.

In order to apply for the accreditation, media representatives must electronically fill in the application form and send it, together with their digital photograph by e-mail to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Applications will be accepted until 10 May 2010.

After the application forms have been examined, the Secretariat of the NATO PA Riga Session will inform the applicants about the further procedure.

We kindly ask media representatives to familiarise themselves with the information on accreditation and security and internal rules during the NATO PA Riga Session.

The NATO PA 2010 Spring Session in Riga will be held from 28 May to 1 June at the Kipsala International Exhibition Centre.

According to Mr. Dzintars Rasnačs, Deputy Head of the Latvian delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (PA), economic and energy security are the cornerstones of global security, and it is precisely these issues which are turning into the major future challenges for NATO. They will be some of the most significant non-military security issues which will be discussed at the NATO PA Spring Session in Riga at the end of May.

“Poverty is one of the main threats to global security because it creates considerable social tension in many countries, including some of those bordering with NATO member states. Therefore, poverty alleviation is the first and paramount non-military task that needs to be accomplished by NATO. Economic security is the very basis of global security. NATO member states get involved in solving these issues by taking part in programmes for economy support and infrastructure development,” pointed out the Deputy Head of the Latvian delegation to the NATO PA.

“For example, the current economic crisis increases the poverty level in NATO member states themselves; it also entails various additional risks which damage democracy, the rule of law, and security. All these issues are closely connected,” said Mr. Rasnačs, who sits on the Committee on Economics and Security of the NATO PA.

During the Riga Session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (PA) in late May, it is planned to involve volunteers. That will be an opportunity for them to take part in hosting a large-scale international event.

The NATO PA Riga Session will give a chance to gain experience to about 40 Riga Stradiņš University students who have sufficient language proficiency, high communication skills, as well as the desire and commitment to get involved in helping the Session to run smoothly.

Volunteers will be involved in welcoming guests at the airport and at the hotels; they will also accompany guests during their transfer to Session venues and during excursions. Some of the young people will provide assistance to the NATO PA Secretariat during standing committee meetings and the plenary session, but others will provide other necessary support and assist in technical tasks, such as copying, handing out and collecting documents.

During the Riga Session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (PA), presidential candidates of this interparliamentary organisation will be nominated.  

NATO PA presidential candidates must be nominated in writing by three or more members or alternate members of NATO PA delegations. Candidates must be members or alternate members of the PA. They are approved by the NATO PA Standing Committee.

The President shall be elected for a year’s term by member state delegations during the annual session in autumn. The President may be re-elected for one more year.