DEFENCE: EU AGREES TERMS FOR FORMER WEU STAFF IN EU STRUCTURES.

The absorption into the EU of the former WEU Satellite Centre and Security Studies Institute - agreed last July (see European Report 2610) - was seen as an essential step in giving effect to the EU Nice European Council Conclusions on moving the EU's defence policy ahead. The two organs have the status of EU agencies as from January 1, 2002. The role of the Satellite Centre - which is situated at a military airbase outside Madrid - is to support the decision-making of the EU, by providing material resulting from the analysis of satellite imagery and collateral data, including aerial imagery. The Institute for Security Studies, in Paris, is to contribute to the development of the EU defence policy by conducting academic research and analysis in the relevant fields, according to their formal missions.Staff at the Satellite Centre will have to sign a declaration committing them to "loyalty, discretion and conscience" in the discharge of their duties, and to respect "exclusively" the interests of the Centre, and no government or other external authority.The Council has also agreed the financial regulations for the two organs, under the July 2001 Council Common...