NATO In The 21st Century -- The Road Ahead
NATO'S OPEN DOOR POLICY
"The Parties may, by unanimous agreement, invite any other European state in a position to further the principles of this Treaty and to contribute to the security of the North Atlantic area to accede to this Treaty.(...)"
Article 10, The North Atlantic Treaty, Washington DC, 4 April 1949
Article 10 of the North Atlantic Treaty reflects the openness of the Alliance to new members. Since the signing of the North Atlantic Treaty, seven countries have joined the initial twelve signatories. Greece and Turkey joined the Alliance in 1952, Germany in 1955 and Spain in 1982. The Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland became members of the Alliance in March 1999.
Over the last fifty years, the Alliance has contributed significantly to the preservation of peace and stability on the territory of its members. The process of enlargement is aimed at extending the zone of security and stability to other European countries. It does not threaten any country.
Following the end of the Cold War, at the January 1994 Brussels Summit, NATO leaders stated that they "expect and would welcome NATO expansion that would reach to democratic states to our East." NATO Enlargement is part of the process which has been going on throughout the 1990s to end the divisions of the Cold War. The invitation to the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland demonstrated NATO's willingness to erase old dividing lines on the continent. Their accession also reflects the general movement towards greater European integration, alongside the enlargement of the European Union. The door to NATO membership remains open to other European countries that are ready and willing to undertake the commitments and obligations of membership and whose membership contributes to security in the Euro-Atlantic area.
NATO is also deepening its cooperative relations with all countries in Europe whether or not they have expressed interest in membership. The creation of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council, the enhancement of the Partnership for Peace program, the NATO-Russia Founding Act, and the Charter between NATO and Ukraine are all part of this process.
At the 1997 Madrid Summit, when the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland were invited to begin accession talks, Alliance leaders undertook to review the enlargement process at their next meeting in Washington.
At the Washington Summit, NATO unveiled a "Membership Action Plan" (MAP), designed to help aspiring countries meet NATO standards and prepare for possible future membership. Participation in the Plan is on the basis of self-selection and self-differentiation.
Countries aspiring to NATO membership are expected to continue their active participation in EAPC/PfP. Since its inception in 1994, the Partnership for Peace (PfP) program has had an important role in helping prepare aspirant countries for membership through participation in PfP activities. The PfP program provided direct assistance to the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland in their preparations. The MAP is designed to provide a program of such activities from which countries may select those they consider of most value to help them in their preparations for possible future membership.
The Membership Action Plan calls for aspirants to submit individual annual national programs on their preparations. It also provides mechanisms for feedback and advice on progress made by them in implementing these programs. The MAP includes planning targets specifically covering areas most relevant for nations preparing their forces and capabilities for possible future membership; and annual meetings to ensure that the assistance provided by NATO and its member states is as effective as possible.
The Plan does not provide a checklist for countries to fulfil, nor does participation in the program prejudge any eventual decision by the Alliance on issuing an invitation to begin accession talks. Such decisions will be made only on a case-by-case basis by all allies on the basis of consensus.
Each year, NATO Foreign and defense Ministers will consider progress on activities under the Membership Action Plan.
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Source: Official NATO Website at http://www.nato.int/.