On 27 September 1962, the Council of Western European Union (WEU) holds a meeting with the Defence Committee to discuss whether to support Recommendation 78 on defence outside the area of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO). Although the Council does not contest the fact that the interests of the Atlantic Alliance extend outside the defined geographical area, it recognises that this question does not come within its terms of reference, but rather within those of NATO. French member of parliament Jacques Baumel suggests that the Member States should harmonise their views within WEU before a subject is dealt with in NATO. The Chairman of the Council reassures the Committee that effective political consultations do take place within WEU but notes how dangerous it could be for the seven countries to appear to form a bloc within NATO and emphasises that major decisions should be taken within the latter organisation.