Maastricht: Defence unity gives teeth to the WEU: European security

EUROPE is moving towards a more unified stance on defence, despite doubts over the Maastricht treaty. The nine countries of the Western European Union today take the first step to creating a European defence organisation with teeth, by establishing a planning cell in Brussels.

The small staff will begin the business of planning and earmarking units for possible military use. These units would eventually be available for peace-keeping operations run by the United Nations or the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe, under the auspices of the WEU.

The Maastricht treaty contains provisions for a common foreign and security policy, of which the WEU moves were to be a part. But these are hostage to the intentions of the British Government, which has yet to ratify the treaty, and Denmark, which has rejected it. However the WEU declaration - also signed at Maastricht - is not formally part of the treaty.

Indeed, the unravelling of Maastricht would only aid the WEU's attempt to carve out an identity separate from both the Commission and Nato, officials in London say. 'It makes WEU stronger,' said one. 'It is a typical inter-governmental organisation.' The problems with Maastricht probably set back hopes of a conference in 1996 at which some EC members were expected to force moves to integrate the WEU and the EC. 'WEU has a life of its own,' said the official.

The WEU's London-based secretariat is also to move to Brussels. The move has symbolic importance: not only is the city home to most of the institutions of the European Community, but also of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. Nato is also reshaping itself this week, as the alliance's new multinational Rapid Reaction Corps comes into being. Officials hope it will also undertake peace-keeping operations.

There have been concerns in the US and Britain that European efforts would undermine Nato. Reginald Bartholomew, the US ambassador to Nato, said last week that 'we Americans want to see Europe come together'. But he warned: 'The key, however, is to ensure that any arrangement or action that may occur is the result of full consultations and decisions involving all members within the alliance.'

One of the biggest questions hanging over European defence co-operation has always been how France, a key player in the WEU, could fit in. It is a member of Nato, but not of the alliance's integrated military structure. However, Pierre Joxe, France's Defence Minister, said on Tuesday that France was prepared to play a greater role in Nato decision-making - if the process was reformed. 'There can be no question of a return to the integrated military structure. But why not imagine . . . that France will participate more tomorrow than in the past in political-military discussions?' he told a conference.

Manfred Worner, Nato's Secretary-General, responded warmly yesterday, saying that greater French co-operation 'would strengthen the alliance in its new role of crisis management'.

Malcom Rifkind, Britain's Defence Secretary, made some moves in the direction of a closer relationship with France yesterday. He said there should be 'closer co-operation and cohesion between the two West European nuclear powers', adding that 'the more closely we can concert our policies, the more weight we shall carry'. But he added that Nato, with its established structures and procedures, 'remains the only organisation which can meaningfully address the security concerns of both Europeans and North Americans.'