Since the Western European Union (WEU) no longer has a significant role to play, the Modified Brussels Treaty can now be denounced. This was stated by foreign minister Maxime Verhagen yesterday in a letter to both houses of parliament. Defence minister Eimert van Middelkoop was also associated with the letter.

Earlier this week the Netherlands and the other Member States decided to dissolve the WEU.

The WEU was established in Brussels in 1948. The three main objectives were to cooperate in the interests of economic recovery, to afford assistance in resisting aggression, and to promote the unity and integration of Europe. ‘In the past the WEU played a valuable role in European security. But circumstances have changed. The WEU’s tasks have been taken over by NATO and the EU, and it no longer has an active portfolio. We therefore believe it is time to denounce the treaty,’ Mr Verhagen wrote.

In the letter, the minister noted that the WEU’s future has been under discussion for some time, given ongoing developments in the EU’s security and defence policy. The entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon at the end of last year gave extra impetus to the discussion.

The WEU currently has ten members: the Benelux countries, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom. Its organisation is now reduced to a secretariat-general and parliamentary assembly. The Netherlands contributes in excess of €800,000 a year to the overall budget of €13 million. ‘Given the reduced significance of the WEU this contribution can no longer be justified, particularly in the current financial climate,’ the minister wrote.



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