On 19 February 1974, the Secretary-General of Western European Union (WEU) circulates a draft reply, prepared by the French delegation to the WEU Council, to Assembly Recommendation 241 on oil and energy problems. Most of the draft is taken up in the final reply (C(74)63). In view of the oil crisis affecting several Western countries, the Council is aware of the link between secure energy supplies for Europe and its defence policy. The document emphasises that work is already under way within the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the European Communities on the oil question and the issues related to a common energy policy.