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WEU Disbands, Taken over by EU
The Western European Union's (WEU) last meeting occurred Monday as the defense organization formally ended its historic mission in Europe, with its responsibilities being assumed by the European Union (EU).
The 10-member WEU has terminated its function for defense policy coordination among Western European countries. Monday's farewell WEU meeting marked an important and final step for the 52-year-old alliance.
WEU activities will be taken over by the EU, which has vowed to have an independent defense force in three years at most.
The WEU members include Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Britain, all of which are also EU members.
The organization will retain a small team in Brussels with most of its employees to be transferred to the EU, NATO and some other EU institutions.
The WEU has seldom acted since its establishment in 1948 because of NATO's presence in Europe. In the last 10 years, it was involved in landmine clearing missions as well as security operations in the Gulf and the Balkans.
Local analysts believe its disbanding is expected to enhance the EU's defense role in the future.
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