Study on NATO Enlargement In 1995, the Alliance undertook a study to examine the Regarding the “how” of enlargement, the Study con- covering a wide variety of areas “why and how” of future admissions into the Alliance. firmed that, as in the past, any future extension of the extending well beyond defence and The Study on NATO Enlargement concluded that, with Alliance’s membership would be through accession of security issues and military struc- the end of the Cold War and the dissolution of the new member states to the Washington Treaty in Warsaw Pact, there was both a need for and a unique accordance with Article 10. Once admitted, new mem- tures. While undertaking these opportunity to build improved security in the entire bers would enjoy all the rights and assume all the obli- reforms, these countries have also Euro-Atlantic area without recreating dividing lines. gations of membership. At the time that they joined become involved alongside other they would need to accept and conform to the princi- NATO Partner countries in many of The Study further concluded that enlargement would ples, policies and procedures already adopted by all contribute to enhanced stability and security for all members of the Alliance. the Alliance’s operations, including countries in the Euro-Atlantic area by encouraging NATO-led peacekeeping missions and supporting democratic reforms, including the Other conditions were also stipulated, including the in both the Balkans and in establishment of civilian and democratic control over need for candidate countries to settle ethnic disputes Afghanistan. military forces; fostering patterns and habits of coop- or external territorial disputes by peaceful means eration, consultation and consensus-building charac- before they could become members. The ability of teristic of relations among members of the Alliance; interested countries to contribute militarily to collective Participation in these operations and promoting good-neighbourly relations. It would defence, peacekeeping and other new missions of the For the seven new members – all of has enabled countries to demon- increase transparency in defence planning and mili- Alliance would be a factor in deciding whether to invite which are former Central and strate that, in addition to being con- tary budgets, thereby reinforcing confidence among them to join the Alliance. Ultimately, the Study con- Eastern European Communist states, and would reinforce the overall tendency cluded, Allies would decide by consensus whether to sumers of security – benefiting in countries – NATO accession repre- toward closer integration and cooperation in Europe. invite each new member to join, basing their decision Enhancing security and particular from the Alliance's sents the culmination of a long The Study also concluded that enlargement would on their judgement of whether the membership of a collective-defence guarantee that strengthen the Alliance’s ability to contribute to specific country would contribute to security and sta- preparatory process lasting the is enshrined in Article 5 of the European and international security and strengthen bility in the North Atlantic area. best part of a decade. and broaden the transatlantic partnership. Washington Treaty – they are also extending stability through able to contribute to security and to All seven countries joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace (PfP) pro- help increase stability in and A history of NATO enlargement gramme soon after its creation in beyond the Euro-Atlantic area. NATO members NATO members since 2004 NATO enlargement 1994 and have subsequently Since NATO’s creation in 1949, the Alliance has The fall of the Berlin Wall and the dissolution of the forged ever closer and deeper rela- NATO enlargement is by no means Belgium (1) Germany (8) Luxembourg (15) Slovakia (21) taken in new members on five separate occasions in Warsaw Pact after the end of the Cold War opened tions with the Alliance with a view to a new phenomenon (see box on Bulgaria (2) Greece (9) Netherlands (16) Slovenia (22) 1952, 1955, 1982, 1999 and 2004. In this way, the up the possibility of further NATO enlargement. The becoming NATO members. Since the history of enlargement). In the Canada (3) Hungary (10) Norway (17) Spain (23) 12 founding members – Belgium, Canada, Denmark, new democracies of Central and Eastern Europe 1999, all of these countries have 55 years since the Alliance was Czech Republic (4) Iceland (11) Poland (18) Turkey (24) France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, were eager to join the Alliance to become integrated The seven new benefited from intensified coopera- Denmark (5) Italy (12) Portugal (19) United Kingdom (25) Norway, Portugal, the United Kingdom, and the into Euro-Atlantic institutions and cement their created, its membership has grown tion under the Membership Action Estonia (6) Latvia (13) Romania (20) United States (26) United States – have grown to 26. freedom. Seven countries – Bulgaria, Estonia, The fifth round of NATO enlargement members have from the 12 founders to today’s 26 France (7) Lithuania (14) Plan (MAP), a programme of Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia – the second since the end of the members. Enlargement is in fact an The first round of enlargement took place in 1952 and The Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland were in- undergone advice, assistance and practical and Slovenia – formally became Cold War – is by far the largest, invol- on-going and dynamic process, brought in Greece and Turkey, thereby extending vited to begin accession talks at the Alliance’s Madrid support designed to help the coun- NATO members on 29 March 2004 ving as many countries as in all four comprehensive based upon Article 10 of the security and stability to Southeastern Europe. Three Summit in 1997 and on 12 March 1999 they became PUBLISHED APRILIN 2004 (ENLARENG) tries wishing to join the Alliance to years later, in 1955, the Federal Republic of Germany the first former members of the Warsaw Pact to join with all the benefits and responsibili- previous rounds. In the words of and demanding Washington Treaty, which states th meet NATO standards (see box on became NATO’s 15 member. And Spain became the NATO. Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania ties that Alliance membership entails. NATO Secretary General Jaap de that membership is open to any th the Membership Action Plan). Alliance’s 16 member when it joined in 1982. In the and Slovakia, all formerly part of the Warsaw Pact, The enlargement of the Alliance Hoop Scheffer: “It will be a major reforms “European State in a position to fur- wake of German reunification in 1990, the whole of and Slovenia were invited to begin accession talks at extends the zone of security and sta- step towards a long-standing NATO Germany, including the territory of the former German the Alliance’s Prague Summit in 2002. ther the principles of this Treaty and bility in Europe and brings some objective: a Europe free, united and In the process, the seven new Democratic Republic, came under NATO’s protective to contribute to the security of the 45 million more European citizens secure in peace, democracy and members have undergone compre- umbrella. under NATO’s protective umbrella. common values.” > hensive and demanding reforms North Atlantic area”. * Turkey recognises the Republic of Macedonia with its constitutional name. NATO Public Diplomacy Division, 1110 Brussels, Belgium - Web site: www.nato.int - Email: [email protected] © NATO 2004 Study on NATO Enlargement In 1995, the Alliance undertook a study to examine the Regarding the “how” of enlargement, the Study con- covering a wide variety of areas “why and how” of future admissions into the Alliance. firmed that, as in the past, any future extension of the extending well beyond defence and The Study on NATO Enlargement concluded that, with Alliance’s membership would be through accession of security issues and military struc- the end of the Cold War and the dissolution of the new member states to the Washington Treaty in Warsaw Pact, there was both a need for and a unique accordance with Article 10. Once admitted, new mem- tures. While undertaking these opportunity to build improved security in the entire bers would enjoy all the rights and assume all the obli- reforms, these countries have also Euro-Atlantic area without recreating dividing lines. gations of membership. At the time that they joined become involved alongside other they would need to accept and conform to the princi- NATO Partner countries in many of The Study further concluded that enlargement would ples, policies and procedures already adopted by all contribute to enhanced stability and security for all members of the Alliance. the Alliance’s operations, including countries in the Euro-Atlantic area by encouraging NATO-led peacekeeping missions and supporting democratic reforms, including the Other conditions were also stipulated, including the in both the Balkans and in establishment of civilian and democratic control over need for candidate countries to settle ethnic disputes Afghanistan. military forces; fostering patterns and habits of coop- or external territorial disputes by peaceful means eration, consultation and consensus-building charac- before they could become members. The ability of teristic of relations among members of the Alliance; interested countries to contribute militarily to collective Participation in these operations and promoting good-neighbourly relations. It would defence, peacekeeping and other new missions of the For the seven new members – all of has enabled countries to demon- increase transparency in defence planning and mili- Alliance would be a factor in deciding whether to invite which are former Central and strate that, in addition to being con- tary budgets, thereby reinforcing confidence among them to join the Alliance. Ultimately, the Study con- Eastern European Communist states, and would reinforce the overall tendency cluded, Allies would decide by consensus whether to sumers of security – benefiting in countries – NATO accession repre- toward closer integration and cooperation in Europe.