On 30 April 1980, the Secretary-General of Western European Union (WEU) circulates the Council’s reply to Recommendation 338 on the definition of armaments requirements and procurement in Western Europe, which incorporates a series of amendments proposed by the United Kingdom. The Council considers that the creation of international consortia for the production of defence equipment has been a useful contribution to a better organisation of armaments cooperation in Europe.The Council also believes that if the Member States reach agreement on common requirements, this may stimulate the formation of international consortia. This form of cooperation does not exclude joint production by European and North American firms. The Council is fully aware of the advantages of a market for defence equipment covering the entire Atlantic Alliance. Finally, since it is up to each Member State to decide to what extent sensitive information on defence matters can be circulated to the national parliaments, the Council cannot ask the Chairman of Panel I of the independent European Programme Group to communicate the annual equipment replacement schedules to the Assembly’s Committee on Defence Questions and Armaments.