On 19 November 1996 in Ostend, following the unanimous decision taken by the Defence Ministers of Western European Union (WEU), meeting in the Western European Armaments Group (WEAG), to propose that a Western European Armaments Organisation (WEAO) be established, the WEU Council of Ministers adopts the WEAO Charter and grants it the status of WEU subsidiary body, pursuant to Article VIII of the Modified Brussels Treaty.