The annual ATA Spring Council Meeting was held in the period 21 – 22 May 2013 in Brussels, Belgium. The Council Meeting had two working days at NATO HQ and ATA HQ.

During the first working day representatives from NATO and ATA met to discuss the future engagement of the ATA in the NATO policies and the future partnership. Also there were intense discussions on the increasing of the transatlantic link and the challenges that ATA has to meet in the upcoming period. On this working day there were presentations from high NATO officials such as:
•    Amb. Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, NATO Assistant Secretary-General for Public Diplomacy
•    Dr. Jamie Shea, NATO Deputy Assistant Secretary General;
•    Mr. Eric Povel, NATO Engagements Section

The day finished with an Ambassadors’ Policy Forum on NATO’s Key Priorities presented by the German Ambassador to NATO, Amb. Martin Erdmann and the Swedish Ambassador to NATO, Amb. Veronika Wand-Danielsson.



The second working day was held in the ATA HQ, where every ATA delegation gathered on a comprehensive discussion on the future of the Association. The day was opened by Dr. Karl Lamers, President of the ATA. The Secretary General of the ATA, Mr. Guiseppe Belardetti presented the action plan “The role of the ATA Secretariat: Assessment, Priorities and Services.” After Mr. Belardetti, the Treasurer Mr. Jean-Paul Preumont then provided members with a report of ATA’s finances.



The emphasize of the values of the youth was confirmed with the opportunity for
Mr. Joao Freitas to present the report on the activities of YATA. Special explanation was given on the SEE Working Group and on its first YATA SEE Review which is published by YATA Macedonia.
The day continued with presentations from:
•    Mr. David Hobbs, Secretary General of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly
•    Mr. Ian Lesser, Executive Director of the German Marshall Fund
•    Dr. Jacques Pelkman, Bruegel Institute
•    Dr. Fran Burwell, Vice President and Director of the Program on Transatlantic Relations, Atlantic Council of United States

On this Council Meeting, Euro – Atlantic Council of Macedonia was represented by
Mr. Ismet Ramadani, Vice President of the Euro – Atlantic Council of Macedonia and Mr. Ilija Djugumanov, President of YATA Macedonia/ Vice President for Public Diplomacy of YATA International.