... cooperation in the field of armaments, as appropriate, within the framework of the Western European Armaments Group (WEAG), as the European forum for armaments cooperation, the EU and WEU in the context of rationalisation of the European armaments market and the establishment of a European Armaments Agency ...
An Ad hoc Study Group was created in March 1993 in order to examine all matters related to the possible creation of a European Armaments Agency (EAA). This remit stemmed from the WEU Maastricht Declaration which spoke of the requirement to examine further "proposals for enhanced cooperation in the field of armaments with the aim of creating a European armaments agency". The Group has concluded that although conditions do not yet exist for the creation of an agency conducting the full range of procurement activities on behalf of WEAG nations, there may be potential in individual areas for improvements in the conduct of cooperative business through a body having a legal personality. A number of tasks which are considered potentially feasible for an agency have been identified.
At their meeting in Rome on 16 May 2002, Ministers endorsed the concept of an evolutionary process, envisaging the establishment of an EAA as soon as all appropriate conditions are met and political consensus is reached, and agreed that any outstanding work should continue under the direction of NADS. Defence Ministers agreed to examine the assignment of additional functions to WEAO, to be determined after appropriate study based on the work already completed in the development of the Masterplan.
