The
Western European Union (WEU) is a partially dormant European defence and security organization, established on the basis of the
Treaty of Brussels of 1948 with the accession of
West Germany and
Italy in 1954. It should not be confused with the
European Union (EU). The WEU headquarters are in
Brussels.
The Treaty of Brussels was signed by the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands on March 17, 1948. It was a mutual intergovernmental self defence treaty which also promoted economic, cultural and social collaboration. As a result of the failure of the European Defence Community on October 23, 1954 the WEU was established by the Paris Agreements with the incorporation of the then West Germany and Italy. The signatories of the Paris Agreements clearly stated their three main objectives in the preamble to the modified Brussels Treaty
The three major elements of the WEU are the Council of Ministers, The Council President, and the Secretary-General.
The WEU is led by a Council of Ministers, assisted by a Permanent Representatives Council on ambassadorial level. A Parliamentary Assembly (composed of the delegations of the member states to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe) would oversee the work of the Council. Social and cultural aspects of the Brussels Treaty were handed to the Council of Europe to avoid duplication of responsibilities within Europe.[1]
