[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 48 (Monday, April 27, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3620-S3621]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                             EUROPEAN UNION

  Mr. President, we should not let our fears of Russia's response stall 
NATO expansion; nor should we let protectionist elements of the 
European Union have the same effect. Poland, Hungary, and the Czech 
Republic are established democracies with free market economies. They 
have resolved all territorial conflicts with their neighbors. Their

[[Page S3621]]

militaries are firmly under civilian control and they have pledged to 
meet all the responsibilities of NATO membership. These countries want 
to be engaged in Europe; they are willing to fully participate in the 
defense of Europe and have pledged to do their fair share. There is no 
need to wait until the European Union accepts Poland, Hungary, and the 
Czech Republic before we permit them to achieve full membership in 
NATO.
  Right now, three of our current European allies are not members of 
the European Union: Norway, Iceland, and Turkey. There is no reason to 
raise the bar for the admission of new members.