§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, before deciding whether to agree next month to the enlargement of NATO, they will state their view on: (a) the reorganisation of the NATO command structure to ensure a larger European role throughout; (b) the repartition of the costs of the proposed enlargement among applicant states, European members of NATO, and the United States; and (c) whether NATO should be one element in the United States global strategy as recently suggested by President Clinton, or on the other hand an alliance under full civilian control of like-minded states.
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanNATO Defence Ministers agreed the reorganisation of NATO's command structure at the North Atlantic Council on 3 December. The new command structure will give the Alliance the arrangements it needs to be able to perform the wide range of roles which the new strategic environment demands.
Costs of enlargement to common-funded budgets will be borne in accordance with long-standing cost sharing arrangements, modified to take into account budget shares of new members (Poland 2.48 per cent.; Czech Republic 0.9 per cent.; Hungary 0.65 per cent.). NATO's initial assessment of the costs in question is some £1.5 billion over 10 years.
We regard NATO as the bedrock of European security and a key component in our foreign and defence policies. The place of NATO in the United States Government's assessment of its global responsibilities is a matter for that Government.