[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 19 (Tuesday, March 3, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1290-S1291]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       NATO EXPANSION AND THE EU

 Mr. MOYNIHAN. Mr. President, today the Senate Foreign 
Relations Committee has reported the Resolution of Ratification to NATO 
enlargement. It is appropriate at this time to inform my colleagues of 
my intention to offer a condition to the Resolution of Ratification 
when it comes to the Senate for debate linking NATO expansion with 
economic expansion. I am pleased to be joined in this effort by the 
senior Senator from Virginia, Senator Warner.
  The former Majority Leader, Howard Baker, Jr., our colleague Sam 
Nunn, Brent Scowcroft, and Alton Frye recently wrote an article for The 
New York Times in which they assert that ``Linking NATO expansion to 
the expansion of the European Union would underscore the connection 
between Europe's security and its economy--and offer certification that 
entrants to NATO could afford to meet its defense obligations.''
  It is our contention that Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic 
face no security threats, so strengthening their economies and 
democratic institutions should be their first priority.
  All three of the candidates are eager to join the European Union 
(EU), which has now decided to begin accession negotiations with them. 
NATO's decision at Madrid to invite these countries to negotiate for 
membership preceded the EU offer to negotiate accession. The EU's offer 
affords the Senate an opportunity to lend support to these countries' 
bid for EU membership, without accepting any presumption that entry 
into the EU guarantees admission to NATO.
  A provision to link admission to NATO with admission to the EU will 
encourage expeditious negotiations by the EU, and will allow the three 
countries to concentrate their full resources on economic 
modernization, rather than diverting precious resources to military 
expenditures.
  I ask that the text of the condition be printed in the Record.
  The text of the condition follows:
       At the end of section    of the resolution (relating to 
     conditions), add the following:
       (  ) Deferral of ratification of nato enlargement until 
     admission of poland, hungary, and czech republic to the 
     european union.--
       (A) Prohibition.--The President shall not deposit the 
     United States instrument of ratification prior to the latest 
     date by which Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic have

[[Page S1291]]

     acceded to membership in the European Union and have each 
     engaged in initial voting participation in an official action 
     of the European Union.
       (B) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this paragraph may be 
     construed as an expression by the Senate of an intent to 
     accept as a new NATO member any country other than Poland, 
     Hungary, or the Czech Republic if that country becomes a 
     member of the European Union after the date of adoption of 
     this resolution.

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