The Demise of the Western European Union: Lessons for European Defence

This is a summary from an event held on 10 May 2011 at Chatham House, London.

After more than 60 years of existence, the Western European Union (WEU) ceased its last residual activities in June 2011, a decade after ceding all political and operational functions to the EU's European Security and Defence
Policy.

Professor Alyson Bailes, former Political Director of the Western European Union (WEU), and Graham Messervy-Whiting, former Head of the WEU's Planning Cell, presented their balance sheet for the WEU's performance since its creation more than 60 years ago. They suggested lessons that can be drawn for the European Union, NATO and international security as a whole, in the new context marked by more pressing financial constraints and US disengagement.