In a memorandum dated 25 August 1948, the Chiefs of Staff of the Member States of Western Union put forward recommendations to the Defence Ministers for the establishment of a more comprehensive and permanent defence organisation.

On 7 May 1955, in application of Article VIII of the Modified Brussels Treaty, the Council of Western European Union (WEU) approves the establishment in Paris of a Standing Armaments Committee (SAC) to be responsible for seeking joint solutions to the needs of the member States in terms of equipment. The SAC undertakes in particular to promote agreements or arrangements on subjects such as the research and development, standardisation, production and supply of armaments.

On 15 May 1955, the French journal Perspectives describes the operation and tasks of the Standing Armaments Committee of Western European Union (WEU) and France’s role in the establishment of this committee.

In this interview, Willem van Eekelen, Netherlands Minister for Defence from 1986 to 1988 and Secretary-General of Western European Union (WEU) from 1989 to 1994, gives the reasons for the establishment of the Agency for the Control of Armaments (ACA) and the Standing Armaments Committee (SAC) in 1954 and 1955, in the middle of the Cold War.

On 9 November 1956, Charles Cristofini, Deputy Secretary-General of Western European Union (WEU), publishes a report on the role of the WEU Standing Armaments Committee in connection with European cooperation.

Convention signed in Paris on 14 December 1957 concerning measures to be taken by the Member States of Western European Union in order to enable the Agency for the Control of Armaments to carry out its control effectively and making provision for due process of law in accordance with Protocol No IV of the Modified Brussels Treaty.

On 5 July 1966, the German daily newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung outlines the tasks of the Agency for the Control of Armaments (ACA) of Western European Union (WEU) and considers the question of the monitoring of French divisions stationed in the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG).

Decision of the Council of Ministers of Western European Union (WEU) of 13 November 1989 concerning the establishment of the WEU Institute for Security Studies. The role of the Institute, whose seat is in Paris, is to promote a European security identity and to assist WEU in pursuing its objectives.

Decision taken by the Council of Ministers of Western European Union (WEU) on 27 June 1991 for the establishment of a WEU Satellite Centre. The aim of this centre is to train European experts in the photo-interpretation of satellite data, to collect and process accessible data and make this data available to the Member States, and to carry out research into potential cooperation regarding a European system of observation by satellite.

Opening of the Institute for Security Studies of Western European Union (WEU) in Paris on 10 December 1990, attended by French Prime Minister Michel Rocard.

In a report submitted to the Assembly of Western European Union (WEU) on 31 October 1994, the Committee for Parliamentary and Public Relations gives an assessment of the WEU Institute for Security Studies and outlines the future prospects for the Institute.

In a report submitted on 9 November 1994 to the Assembly of Western European Union (WEU), the Technological and Aerospace Committee emphasises the importance of the Torrejón Satellite Centre for defence in Europe. In order to guarantee the continuity of the Centre, the Committee recommends to the WEU Council that it be made permanent.

On 19 November 1996 in Ostend, following the unanimous decision taken by the Defence Ministers of Western European Union (WEU), meeting in the Western European Armaments Group (WEAG), to propose that a Western European Armaments Organisation (WEAO) be established, the WEU Council of Ministers adopts the WEAO Charter and grants it the status of WEU subsidiary body, pursuant to Article VIII of the Modified Brussels Treaty.

Meeting of the Foreign and Defence Ministers of the Member States of Western European Union (WEU) in Ostend on 19 November 1996. Following the unanimous decision of the Defence Ministers, meeting within the Western European Armaments Group (WEAG), to propose the creation of the Western European Armaments Organisation (WEAO), the WEU Council of Ministers (at 10) adopts the WEAO Charter thereby granting this organisation the status of WEU subsidiary body, in accordance with Article VIII of the Modified Brussels Treaty.

In this interview, Willem van Eekelen, Netherlands Minister for Defence from 1986 to 1988 and Secretary-General of Western European Union (WEU) from 1989 to 1994, describes the tasks of the Institute for Security Studies and the Satellite Centre as well as their links with WEU.

In this interview, Willem van Eekelen, Netherlands Minister for Defence from 1986 to 1988 and Secretary-General of Western European Union (WEU) from 1989 to 1994, discusses the main tasks of the Western European Armaments Group (WEAG), established in 1993, and its predecessor, the Independent European Programme Group (IEPG), as well as the Western European Armaments Organisation (WEAO), established in 1996.

In this interview, Charles Goerens, Luxembourg Minister for Defence from 1999 to 2004 and member, in this capacity, of the Western European Armaments Group (WEAG), describes WEAG’s main tasks.

In this interview, Charles Goerens, Luxembourg Minister for Defence from 1999 to 2004, explains the role of the Western European Armaments Organisation (WEAO).

In this interview, Colin Cameron, Secretary-General of the Assembly of Western European Union (WEU), describes the WEU Assembly’s links with the Western European Armaments Group (WEAG) and the Western European Armaments Organisation (WEAO), emphasising WEU’s interest in questions relating to armaments.

With the aim of developing the operational capacities of Western European Union (WEU), and in accordance with the Maastricht and Petersberg Declarations, a Planning Cell is established in Brussels on 1 October 1992. In 1998, the Planning Cell and the Situation Centre combine to form the WEU Military Staff.

Photo taken during a meeting of the Western European Union Satellite Centre Management Team held in 1997 in Torrejón de Ardoz, Spain.

In a report submitted to the Assembly of Western European Union (WEU) on 10 November 1999, the Technological and Aerospace Committee emphasises the importance of the WEU Satellite Centre, assesses its activities and indicates the strategies to adopt so as to secure appropriate space assets for Defence Europe.