Closer NATO-WEU cooperation the focus of meeting in Germany

The defence and foreign affairs ministers of the European Union and the Western European Union (WEU) are set to meet in Germany today, as part of efforts for closer cooperation of the two organisations.
National Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos and Alternate Foreign Minister Yiannos Kranidiotis will represent Greece.  The WEU, considered the European Union defence appendage within NATO, is expected to become the basis of the European Union's military branch based on the Amsterdam Treaty, which is in effect since May 1.  According to reports, the proposed time-table for the unification of the two organisations will be a five-year long programme, an issue to be discussed during the EU summit in Germany on June 3-4.  Based on the same reports, the German foreign ministry will propose for only one individual to be responsible for both the common foreign and defence policies.
The WEU's 10 full members are Belgium, France, Britain, Germany, Greece, Italy, Spain, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Portugal, while 18 more countries participate in the organisation as associate members or as observers.