Transparency and Accountability

Photo credit: riotcitygirl/flickr

For NATO to live up the reason for which it was created—to safeguard the freedom, common heritage and civilisation of their peoples, founded on the principles of democracy, individual liberty and the rule of law (North Atlantic Treaty, 1949)—it must be open, transparent and accountable to the public. Yet NATO is the only major intergovernmental body not to have even a basic information disclosure policy and the Alliance continues to be a closed and secretive organisation distant from the general public. Most of the Alliance’s work takes place away from the glare of publicity in an assortment of projects involving over 400 specialised agencies, centres, committees, groups and panels. Mechanisms for parliamentary and public accountability and oversight are inadequate or non-existent. This is a summary list of all the content in the site categorised within the Transparency & Accountability policy area.