On 17 March 1981, the Secretary-General of Western European Union (WEU) circulates the Council’s draft reply to Recommendation 359 of the WEU Assembly on the state of European security. It contains several French amendments, all of which are included in the final version (C(81)69). The Council notes that the security of Western Europe and North America may be adversely affected by the situation developing outside the NATO Treaty area, particularly following the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. The draft reply, to which amendments have been added by the French delegation, emphasises the cohesion, solidarity and resolve of the allied countries in the field of security policy. It also underlines the importance of the measures taken by the Member States of the Atlantic Alliance to strengthen their defence posture.