On 2 December 1999, in advance of the Helsinki European Council, the Belgian daily newspaper, Le Soir reveals the substance of a document drawn up by the four largest countries of the European Union (France, the United Kingdom, Germany and Italy) which determines the four bodies which should enable the European Union to take decisions in the fields of security and defence and to conduct its own military operations: the General Affairs Council, the Political and Security Committee, the EU Military Committee and the EU Military Staff.