Paris, 5 December 2000.-Javier Solana, WEU Secretary-General and High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy of the European Union (EU) Council, said Tuesday that the EU summit in Nice this weekend « will define the permanent structures required to manage its Common Security and Defence Policy. »

Addressing the WEU-ESDA Assembly, Mr. Solana said that these structures « would consist of a Political and Security Committee, a Military Committee and a Military Staff, » and would be backed by « two bodies which build directly on WEU’s experience—a Satellite Centre and an Institute for Security Studies. »

The Nice summit was « far from being the end of the process set in train two years ago, » he said. It was now up to European nations « to take the necessary decisions to make good their commitments to improve European military capabilities, » he added.

Praising « the spirit of innovation and inclusiveness, » which have distinguished the work of the WEU over the past ten years, Mr. Solana said that « the modified Brussels Treaty and its mutual defence commitment in article V were the reason for maintaining WEU. For the WEU Council of Ministers, « relations with the WEU Assembly will remain a key part » of its responsibilities under the modified Brussels Treaty, » he said.