Number: 98-402
Title: NATO AND THE EUROPEAN UNION: ECONOMIC CAPACITY OF NEW MEMBER COUNTRIES AND OPPORTUNITY COSTS
Authors: John P. Hardt, and Milana I. Gorshkova, Economics Division 
Abstract: Formal accession agreements with the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland joining NATO are scheduled for spring 1999, with accession to the European Union several years later. In tight budgets over the coming decade these security requirements for assuring integration into NATO structures and force modernization would have to compete with other incremental programs designed to further economic transition and meet European Union accession requirements. How well the likely new members to NATO and EU assess their opportunity costs in formulating their budgets in the decade ahead may be of special interest to the U.S. Congress in discharging its foreign and appropriations policy responsibilities.
Pages: 23
Date: Updated April 23, 1998