The seminar explored two issues currently high on the agenda of parliaments and governments throughout Europe: NATO enlargement and the future of East-West arms control. The meeting also drew on US and UK experts who discussed aspects of parliamentary oversight. Defence budget oversight and the US War Powers Act inspired particularly lively discussion as some of the governments represented were considering legislation on related issues in their own parliaments. Two discussions on NATO enlargement focused on the internal reform of NATO, accentuating the ways in which the Alliance is moving beyond its Cold War structure and missions. The wide range of cost options for NATO enlargement was also addressed. Overall, the seminar participants reacted positively to the arms-control agenda, but some linked progress on it to NATO enlargement, about which the Russian delegation remained very critical. |
