European Operational Rapid Force On 15 May 1995, the Council of Ministers of the WEU met in Lisbon. During this meeting a declaration of the creation of the European Operational Rapid Force (EUROFOR) was made by France, Italy, Spain and Portugal. Eurofor became operational in June 1998 as a task force of the Western European Union. Participation The Western European Union had ten member countries, six associate member countries, five observer countries and seven associate partner countries. On 14 June 2001, WEU Secretary General Solana stated that there was no foreseeable reason to change the status of the non member countries in the organisation. Members All member countries of the WEU were also members of both NATO and the European Union. These are the only nations that had full voting rights. (1995) (27 March 1990) (27 March 1990) Observers Rome, 1992: Observer countries were members of the European Union, but not of NATO.1 (1995) 1 (1995) (1995) 1 Denmark was an exception, being member of both. It has an opt-out from the Treaty of Maastricht (1992), so that it does not participate in the CSDP of the European Union. Associate members Rome, 1992: Associate membership was created to include the European countries that were members of NATO but not of the European Union. Associate members Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary joined the EU in 2004. (1999) (1999) (1999) (1992) Associate partners Kirchberg, 1994: Countries that at the time were not part of either NATO or of the EU. All of the following nations joined both NATO and the EU by 2007. (1996) Missions The following missions, mainly in the Balkans, were deployed by the WEU: 1987–1988: Operation Cleansweep: A minesweeping operation in the Strait of Hormuz June 1993–October 1996: Operation Sharp Guard: A joint naval operation with NATO in the Adriatic Sea June 1993–October 1996: A police and customs operation with the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) on the Danube July 1994–October 1996: A police contingent in Mostar, Bosnia-Herzegovina May 1997–May 2001: A Multinational Advisory Police Element (MAPE) in Albania May 1999–November 2001: A Demining Assistance Mission (WEUDAM) to Croatia November 1998–July 1999: A general security surveillance mission in Kosovo Non-military activities The WEU initially had cultural and social (non-military) structures and activities, but these were transferred to the Council of Europe in 1960. See also Collective defence Collective security European Union Institute for Security Studies