/pub/history/military/a-weu/general
File: weu1.1

1.1.

The Western European Union
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The Brussels Treaty signed on 17th March 1948 by Belgium, France, Luxembourg, 
the Netherlands and the United Kingdom provided for collective self defence 
and collaboration in economic, social and cultural matters. On 23rd October 
1954, the treaty was amended to include the Federal Republic of Germany and 
Italy, thus making a more effective focus on  European security by reinforcing
its security.

The modified Brussels Treaty provided a system of co-operation in social and 
cultural affairs. These activities were transferred in 1960 to the Council of 
Europe.

An Agency for the Control of Armaments verified the undertakings not to 
manufacture certain types of armaments and controlled the level of stocks of 
armaments held in each WEU member state.  Most of these controls were lifted 
by the end of the first half of the eighties.

Between 1963 and 1970, while negotiations for the United Kingdom's accession 
to the EEC were suspended, the WEU Council invited the Commission of the EEC 
to participate in meetings on European economic affairs.  These were 
discontinued in 1970 on the reopening of negotiations which led to the Treaty 
of Accession of the United Kingdom in January 1972.

A meeting of ministers of foreign affairs and defence, held in Rome on 
26th-27th October 1984, agreed on how to revitalise WEU.  They decided to seek
to harmonise their views on : defence questions, arms control and disarmament,
the effects of developments in East-West relations on the security of Europe, 
Europe's contribution to the strengthening of the Atlantic Alliance, European 
armaments co-operation.

At the ministerial meeting on 27th October, the platform on European security 
interests was adopted.  It contains the basic principles of a European 
dimension of security and is constructed around three main sets of ideas:

-  the conditions of European security
-  the criteria on which European security is based
-  the responsibilities of Europeans with regard to their security considered 
in the context of common Atlantic security, whether in the areas of defence, 
arms control or dialogue with the East.

During the summer of 1987, political consultation took place within WEU in 
response to the increasing threat to freedom of navigation posed by 
mine-laying in the Gulf as a result of the Iran/Iraq war.  This led to the 
so-called Gulf operation.  The success of that operation has demonstrated that
WEU can act as an effective European forum for establishing political 
concertation and practical co-operation between member countries in crisis 
situation where their security interests are affected.

At the Ministerial meeting of 14th November 1988, a protocol of accession was 
signed with Portugal and Spain.

Since the reforms of 1984, the Council of Ministers of WEU (Ministers for 
Foreign Affairs and Defence) meets twice a year.  The Permanent Council meets 
on a regular basis. 

On 21st August 1990, following the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq, the WEU 
Ministerial Council decided to establish a structure aimed at co-ordinating 
the European military deployment in the Middle East.

The Ambassadors of the member countries constitute the Permanent Council. This
Council which is chaired by the Secretary-General has set up various working 
groups where delegates from capitals meet. The organisation operates with a 
system of a one year presidency by each member state.  Luxembourg has been in 
the chair since lst July 1993.
On 20th November 1992, Greece became Member of the WEU; Turkey, Norway and 
Iceland became Associate Members, while Denmark and Ireland became Observers.


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*  Assembly of Western European Union    Tel: 33-1-47 23 54 32              *
*  Information Service                   Fax: 33-1-47 20 45 43              *
*  43, avenue du President Wilson        E-Mail: 100315.240@COMPUSERVE.COM  *
*  75775 Paris Cedex 16 - France                 Yves.Robins@eurokom.ie     *
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