Western European Union

The Western European Union (WEU) was a European defence and security organization. It was set up by Treaty of Brussels of 1948, West Germany and Italy joined in 1954. It should not be confused with the European Union (EU). The WEU headquarters were in Brussels. After the Cold War its functions were gradually transferred to the European Union and the Council of Europe. It was dissolved on 31 March 2011.

Treaty of Brussels

The Treaty of Brussels was signed by the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands on March 17, 1948. It was changed on October 23, 1954 when West Germany and Italy joined.

The WEU's three main aims are:

• To promote European economic recovery;
• To help each other to resist any attacks or threats of attack;
• To promote the unity in Europe.

The WEU was led by a Council of Ministers, helped by a Council of Permanent Representatives (ambassadors). The Parliamentary Assembly eventually had the same members as the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe). Social and cultural activities were handed to the Council of Europe to avoid duplication.

Other websites

• WEU official web site Archived 2012-08-11 at the Wayback Machine
• Assembly of the Western European Union Archived 2010-01-14 at the Wayback Machine; Assembly of the Western European Union
• Historical fonds of the Western European Union at the Historical Archives of the EU in Florence
• History of NATO – the Atlantic Alliance - UK Government site
• WEU evolution: The presentation of the Eurocorps-Foreign Legion concept at the European Parliament in June 2003 Archived 2006-09-27 at the Wayback Machine