On 4 December 1980, the Assembly of Western European Union (WEU) adopts Recommendation 362 on international industrial consortia and collaborative arrangements for the production of high technology military equipment. The Assembly is aware that, in spite of repeated political recommendations and constant efforts at an official level, progress towards the standardisation and interoperability of defence equipment within the western Alliance remains inadequate. It recommends that the Council invite the member governments to work actively towards armaments cooperation. Through the Standing Armaments Committee (SAC), the Council should monitor progress within the Atlantic Alliance on the interoperability and standardisation of defence equipment and encourage Western European industrial collaboration. The member governments should also be persuaded to establish a link whereby the Assembly is kept regularly informed of the work of the independent European Programme Group (IEPG). The document also calls for the convening of a Western European strategic summit to seek political agreement on the collaborative definition and development of the next generation of military projects.