Finnish Delegation to the Assembly of the Western European Union (Interparliamentary European Security and Defence Assembly)

Parliamentarians from about 40 countries participate in the work of the Assembly of the Western European Union, which was founded in 1954. In addition to the WEU’s ten member states, they include associate members, associate partners and observers. Parliament of Finland, along with for example the parliaments of Sweden and Austria, has an observer status.

The Assembly is a forum for discussion of European security and defence policy. Plenary sessions take place twice a year at the WEU headquarters in Paris. The institutions of the Assembly, i.e. the Presidential Committee, the Standing Committee and six permanent committees, are chosen at plenary sessions.

The Parliament of Finland has been sending delegations to sessions of the Assembly since 1995. The Speaker’s Council appoints its members for one election term. The delegation's secretariat is at the Parliament's International Department.