On 23 June 2005, the Assembly of Western European Union (WEU) celebrates its 50th anniversary in Strasbourg, at the Assembly of the Council of Europe, whose premises were shared by the WEU Assembly from 1955 to 1959. In his address, Jean-Pierre Masseret, head of the Socialist Group in the WEU Assembly, identifies defence as a ‘pillar’ of European integration, and sees peace and security as vectors for economic, social and cultural progress. He also emphasises the essential role of the Assembly as a democratic institution for the representation of citizens.