What is Western European Union?
The '''Western European Union''' (WEU) was a European defence and security organization. It was set up by [[Treaty of Brussels 1948|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.<ref>[http://www.ena.lu?lang=2&doc=343 the Western European Union] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930201227/http://www.ena.lu/?lang=2&doc=343 |date=2007-09-30 }} ena.lu</ref> == Other websites == *[http://www.weu.int/ WEU official web site] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120811173845/http://www.weu.int/ |date=2012-08-11 }} *[http://www.assembly-weu.eu/ Assembly of the Western European Union] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100114172227/http://www.assembly-weu.eu/ |date=2010-01-14 }}; [http://assembly.weu.int/ Assembly of the Western European Union] *[http://archives.eui.eu/en/fonds/194161?item=WEU Historical fonds] of the Western European Union at the [http://www.eui.eu/Research/HistoricalArchivesOfEU/Index.aspx Historical Archives of the EU] in Florence *[http://www