was established at the Russia-NATO Summit in Rome on May 28, 2002. The NRC is a mechanism for consultations, consensus-building, cooperation, joint decision and joint action.
The NRC replaced the Permanent Joint Council (PJC), a forum for consultations and cooperation created by the 1997 NATO-Russia Founding Act. Under the NRC, Russia and NATO member states meet as equals “at 29” – instead of in the bilateral “NATO+1” format under the PJC.
Russia and 28 NATO member states participate in the NRC. The NRC usually meets monthly at the level of ambassadors and military representatives; twice a year at the level of foreign and defence ministers and chiefs of staff; and occasionally at summit level.