WESTERN EUROPEAN UNION

(WEU) association of 10 nations (Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and the United Kingdom) that operates as a forum for the coordination of matters of European security and defense. It contributed to the creation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and works in cooperation with that organization. The WEU grew out of the Brussels Treaty of 1948an agreement between the nations of Belgium, France, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, and the United Kingdom to provide for collective defense and to facilitate cooperation in economic, social, and cultural matters. NATO and the Council of Europe, both of which were formed in 1949, developed out of that framework. In 1954 the Brussels Treaty was strengthened and modified to include West Germany and Italy, to end the occupation of West Germany, and to include West Germany in NATO; and the WEU came into being on May 6, 1955. In 1960 the activities of committees for social and cultural affairs were transferred to the Council of Europe. In 1984 the union was reactivated and a new agenda was established: it recognized the significance of U.S. arms to the defense of Europe and resolved to increase regional military cooperation. In 1988 Portugal and Spain joined the union; Greece joined in 1992. The WEU is administered by a council consisting of the ministers of foreign affairs and of defense of the member nations. The council is responsible for policy formulation and holds meetings (twice a year at the ministerial level, more often at the ambassadorial level) to discuss problems of common concern. Three internal agencies are also involved. The assembly of the WEU, which has a number of permanent committees, consists of the delegates of the member nations to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. Headquarters of the WEU are in London.