Western European and Others Group

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WEOG Member States

The Western European and Others Group (WEOG) is one of several unofficial regional voting blocs within the United Nations. Regional voting blocs were formed in 1961 to encourage voting to various UN bodies from regional groups. WEOG is unusual in that geography is not the sole defining factor as members are included from North America, Asia, and the Pacific region as well as Western-style democracies in Europe.

In 2000, Israel, though naturally a part of the Asian Group in geographical terms but with membership barred by Arab countries, was admitted on a temporary basis (subject to renewal) to WEOG's New York activities, thereby enabling it to be a candidate for election to various UN bodies [1]. In 2004, Israel obtained a permanent renewal to its membership to the WEOG for New York activities. Without a regional membership, Israel had been unable to be elected and voiceless to various UN activities and bodies. In 2000, the nine-month anniversary of Nauru's UN membership in the Asian Group prompted a call by that country for a new Oceania regional grouping including Australia and New Zealand within the United Nations regional voting system [2].

There were 29 member states as of 2005.