The Western European and Others Group (WEOG) is one of several unofficial Regional Groups in the United Nations that act as voting blocs and negotiation forums. Regional voting blocs were formed in 1961 to encourage voting to various UN bodies from regional groups. Almost all members are in Western Europe, but the WEOG is unusual in that geography is not the sole defining factor; Europe is divided between the WEOG and the Eastern European Group, and the WEOG also contains Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, which are culturally and politically descended from Western European states but are located far away from them. The group also contains one observer, United States (which cannot vote but can put forward candidates for the General Assembly), and one temporary full member, Israel (on a basis of "permanent renewal of temporary full membership").
There are 28 member states, as of 2010.
Read more about Western European And Others Group: WEOG Observers, Suggestions To Re-arrange The Group, JUSCANZ, WEOG and Elections
Famous quotes containing the words western, european and/or group:
“It is said that some Western steamers can run on a heavy dew, whence we can imagine what a canoe may do.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“England is nothing but the last ward of the European madhouse, and quite possibly it will prove to be the ward for particularly violent cases.”
—Leon Trotsky (1879–1940)
“Jury—A group of twelve men who, having lied to the judge about their hearing, health, and business engagements, have failed to fool him.”
—H.L. (Henry Lewis)