Western European Union
- A meeting of the WEU in Marseille (Photo: French Presidency Web-site)
A defence agreement dating from 1948, originally signed by the UK, France and the Benelux countries. Under the Treaty of Maastricht, the WEU was envisaged as the defence component of the EU.
Following the introduction of the Petersberg-Tasks of the WEU into the Treaty of Amsterdam and the ongoing development of a Common Security and Defence Policy, the WEU will no longer play a role.
In the Brussels Treaty, Article 5 relates to the WEU, referring to an automatic mutual defence obligation.
The future
The mutual defence clause was integrated into the EU Constitution for those members undertaking enhanced cooperation within the area of defence according to special rules.Links
See also Common Security and Defence Policy, NATO, Neutrality, Solidarity clause, Brussels treaty.http://www.assembly-weu.org/fr/include/erreur.html
