Ancient history

1st enlargement and entry of the United Kingdom into the EEC (1973)


January 1, 1973, the European Economic Community expands from six to nine countries with the accession of Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom. To join the EEC, these countries had to meet two criteria:to belong to the European continent and to obtain the agreement of all the member countries. However, Charles de Gaulle who perceives the United Kingdom as the "Trojan horse of the United States" refused membership and delayed the process. This first enlargement testifies to a certain unpopularity of European construction but also to a desire to strengthen the cohesion of the EEC.

Economic and political motivations of future members

The EEC created by six countries in 1957:Germany, Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands, establishes a common market and a approximation of the economic policies of the States. The goal is to increase the productivity of the six states and improve the standard of living in a context troubled by the Cold War and the 1956 Suez crisis. Enlargement is an opportunity to compete with the United States. However, the process initially planned for four additional countries:Ireland, the United Kingdom, Denmark and Norway will prove long and complex.

The various candidate countries have multiple reasons for joining the EEC, which has an increasingly important place on the international scene. Common policies have developed and the common market has entered its final phase.

The UK is weakened globally and no longer plays an important role in it. Although having initially refused to belong to the EEC because of its supranational character, the United Kingdom is now interested in a future enlargement. This change of position is explained by the loosening of its ties with the Commonwealth countries and the United States, and by the problems encountered with EFTA. The latter is a free trade area created on January 4, 1960 by the United Kingdom and six other European countries of the OEEC in order to counterbalance the EEC and impose customs discrimination on it.

The British candidacy involves that of Ireland with which it exercised a trusteeship as well as Denmark and Norway with which it has been linked since 1960 by EFTA. Ireland, which was under British rule until 1921, remains economically dependent on the latter, which represents nearly 75% of its exports. For Ireland, membership is a primary issue that can allow its emancipation through access to new markets.

Towards the entry of the United Kingdom into the EEC

It was in 1961 that the United Kingdom proposed its candidacy for the first time, which was rejected twice by Charles de Gaulle. As the three other candidacies are linked to that of Great Britain, by refusing the latter, De Gaulle thus prevents the enlargement of Europe to ten countries and isolates France in the EEC. This isolation materialized in particular in 1967 by the opposition of a united front against France where the five other member countries of the EEC have demanded an immediate opening of negotiations with the United Kingdom. These five member countries see enlargement as a particular interest. Indeed, Germany sees it as a means of obtaining increased outlets for its industrial products. Hostile to French hegemony, Italy and the Benelux countries favored the entry of the United Kingdom into the common market in order to counterbalance France.

Until 1969, enlargement was blocked by the French president because of the close relations that the British have with the Commonwealth countries and the United States. Charles de Gaulle thinks that this adhesion can compromise the European nature of the community and its capacity to balance the American power. It was after his departure that enlargement was finally possible.

In June 1969, Georges Pompidou , the new President of the Republic, is no longer convinced of the usefulness of the Franco-German couple. He sees enlargement as a way to balance German power in Europe through the entry of the British. This look is explained by the fear of an excessive rapprochement of the FRG with the United States or with the USSR with ostpolitik set up by the German Chancellor Willy Brandt in 1969 with a view to an East-West rapprochement. This unblocking of European construction led on 1 and 2 December 1969 to the Conference in The Hague which paves the way for a first enlargement. The six Heads of State meet and decide on the opening of negotiations.

Enlargement to ten:difficult negotiations and a long process

The negotiations took place in two stages:on the one hand between the six during the first half of 1970 and on the other hand with the candidate countries from June 30, 1970. The second part of the negotiations is particularly difficult with the United Kingdom and Norway. Sensitive issues relate to the significant British contribution paid as agricultural levies and the international role of the Lira. You should know that the British had an advantage. They imported foodstuffs from non-Community countries at prices below the Community price. Negotiations are also complex with Norway on the delicate question of fishing. Fishermen who do not have boats as powerful as the French are not willing to share their natural wealth with the EEC.

Some 40 ministerial meetings and a significant number of hours of talks are needed to reach an agreement between the six and the United Kingdom. This compromise is concretized in the Brussels agreements . On 22 January 1972 the candidate countries sign the accession treaty.

The integration of the four countries would not be final until January 1, 1973 after a "interim" period of eleven months. The objective is to maintain the coherence of the community where decisions are only taken by the six but with the agreement of the candidate countries. In addition, transitional periods were set at 5 years from 1973 to 1977 to allow the new partners to adapt to common policies and not upset the balance of the community. Thus, integration is carried out in stages through a timetable to avoid a sudden reorientation and jeopardize the cohesion of the EEC.

A Europe reduced to nine:between a divided population and a more solid project of union

Within the countries of the EEC, accession is ratified by the national parliaments except in France in April 1972, where it is carried out by referendum with 68% of favorable answers and an abstention rate of 39%. Unlike the ratification of the Treaty of Rome, citizens are for the first time directly consulted during referendums in Ireland and Denmark.

Between May and October 1972, the ratification of the treaty is voted in Ireland with 83% of the votes, in the United Kingdom by the House of Commons and Lords and in Denmark with 63.5% voices. This is a relative victory for Denmark because the nationalist and extreme left parties have expressed their refusal.

Norway's referendum is a failure on September 26, 1972 with 53.3% of votes against. Resistance operates in agricultural areas where fishermen and farmers refuse to share the fishing area with other European countries. It should be noted that even if the referendum consultation is not compulsory, the Norwegian government preferred to withdraw its candidacy.

This enlargement also reveals positive aspects and encouraging. Indeed, the leaders will show greater solidarity by expressing the project of forming a more united Europe. European political cooperation progresses at the first summit of the 9 , from October 19 to 21, 1972. This first summit organized under the impetus of France constitutes the opportunity to give a program to a new Europe which is enlarged to 9. It is on this occasion that for the first time mentioned the concept of European Union. This summit is also at the origin of a new institution:the European Monetary Cooperation Fund which is the first attempt to create a central banking body.

Thus, the hostility encountered by some Danes and the rejection of Norway highlight a certain unpopularity of European construction within states with strong nationalism. These hostilities will prompt scientists to create a tool to gauge public opinion within the wider community. These are the "eurobarometer" surveys set up in the spring of 1974.

January 1, 1973 , Europe goes from six to nine members. The European institutions including the parliament, the commission and the court of justice had to welcome the newcomers. This Europe of nine is now populated by 256 million inhabitants and realizes an annual production of 700 million dollars. It represents a major rival for the United States by becoming the most important partner in international trade.

Bibliography

- BINO Olivi and GIACONE Alessandro, Difficult Europe. European construction, Paris, Gallimard, "Folio", 3rd edition 2007.

- BITSCH Marie-Thérèse, History of European integration from 1945 to the present day, Brussels, Complex, 1996.

- BRUNETEAU Bernard, History of European unification , Armand Colin, Paris, 1996. - GAUTHIER André, European construction, stages and challenges , Bréal, Rosny, 1996 - REAU Elisabeth [dir.], Europe of the elites? Europe of the peoples? The construction of the European space, Paris, new Sorbonne press, 1998.