Identity area
Type of entity
Corporate body
Authorized form of name
North Atlantic Council Deputies
Parallel form(s) of name
Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules
Other form(s) of name
Identifiers for corporate bodies
Description area
Dates of existence
1950-1952
History
Established by the North Atlantic Council on 17th May 1950, this permanent body was tasked with executing the Council's directives in the intervals between the sessions of the Council. The terms of reference state that "to enable the Council to carry out its responsibilities and to exercise them continuously, each government will appoint a Deputy to its Council representative". The Council Deputies were responsible, on behalf and in the name of the Council, for formulating policies requiring decisions by the member governments. It was also decided that the Council Deputies would have their headquarters in London. The Deputies met for the first time on 25 July 1950 and elected the US Deputy Mr. Charles Spofford as their Chairman. His duties included chairing the meetings of the Deputies and directing the organisation and its work. Mr. T.A.G. Charlton (UK) was appointed Secretary of the Council and of the Council Deputies. An International Secretariat was also created to perform the necessary administrative tasks for the Deputies. The Council Deputies established working groups and ad hoc committees to prepare studies and reports for them to examine.In May 1951 a reorganisation took place and the role of the Deputies was further enhanced: as well has having the general terms of reference of the Council, the Council Deputies were responsible for co-ordinating the activities of and giving guidance to all the other permanent bodies of NATO, exchanging views on political matters of common interest within the scope of the Treaty, dealing directly with the Military Committee and the Standing Group on political matters having a military implication, promoting and co-ordinating public information activities and considering what further action should be taken under Article 2 [D-D(51)86(Final)].During the second half of 1951 it became evident that to advance the effectiveness of NATO, a further reorganisation was necessary. At the Ministerial Session of Lisbon in February 1952 it was decided that the newly created Council in permanent session would assume the tasks performed by the Council Deputies. The abolition of the Council Deputies became effective as of 5 April 1952 [D-D(52)99].
