European Security and Defence Assembly of the Western European Union (WEU)
The Assembly of WEU was founded in 1954 when the 1948 Brussels Treaty on European security and defence cooperation was modified to establish the "Western European Union". The Assembly today comprises 410 representatives and substitutes from the parliaments of the 27 EU member states, as well as representatives from 15 parliaments with associate, partner or observer status. Many are members of the defence, foreign or European affairs committees in their own parliaments. The number of delegates depends on the size of the country.
The Assembly's main focus, particularly since 1999 when the role of the WEU was incorporated within the EU, is to scrutinise the EU's European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP).
My roles at the WEU Assembly:
- Chairman of the Liberal Group.
- Representative of the Liberal Group to the Presidential Committee
- Vice-Chairman of the Political Committee
These are the reports that I have authored for the AWEU:
- European foreign, security and defence policy: past achievements and new challenges 9 May 2011
- EU and WEU Council information on European security and defence policy 2 December 2009 (PDF)
- Current developments in nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament 4 November 2009 (PDF)
- European Security after the war in Georgia 4 December 2008 (PDF)
- Transatlantic security challenges 4 December 2007 (PDF)
Here you can find my recent speeches at the Assembly's plenary sessions:
- Speech on the relationship between the EU, NATO and Russia, 30 November 2010.
- Speech on Towards a new security architecture for Europe - reply to the annual report of the Council, 1 December 2009
Here you can find my speeches at the previous Assembly's plenary session in June 2009:
- Speech on The war in Afghanistan: what strategy for Europe? report by Mr Jean-Pierre Kucheida and Mr Françoise Hostalier on behalf of the Defence Committee, 3 June 2009
- Speech on the New opportunities for EU-US foreign and security policy cooperation report by Mr Jordi Xuclà i Costa on behalf of the Political Committee, 2 June 2009
