1946
United States of Europe
Calls for a United States of Europe which leads to the Council of Europe
European integration · permanent subject timeline
Britain and European Integration
Great Britain's role in EEC and later European Union politics. This page combines historical context with 25 matching records drawn directly from the World History Database EEC archive.
Historical context
Britain and European Integration: overview and significance
What happened?
The archive groups records associated with Great Britain, following national leaders, treaty negotiations, European Councils, enlargement, monetary policy and other stages of European integration.
Why was it important?
Great Britain's records show how European integration was shaped through national governments as well as common institutions, and how domestic politics interacted with Community and Union decisions.
World History Database records
Britain and European Integration timeline
The records below are selected from the 936-record EEC and European integration archive and rendered as static HTML in chronological order.
1946
1950
1950
European Defence Community (EDC)
At Strasburg proposes a European Army under unified command, the motion is passed
1966
1966 10th November
Second EEC Application Announcement
The Labour Government announces its intention to make a second application to join the EEC
1966
EEC Membership Conditions
Pompidou says Britain will have to devalue before being considered for EEC membership
1972
1972 31st December
European Free Trade Association (EFTA)
Britain leaves EFTA in order to join the EU
1972 31st December
Withdrawal from EFTA
Britain leaves EFTA in order to join the EU
1973
1973 1st January
Britain Joins European Communities
Britain officially becomes a member of the EU
1973 January
Fanfare for Europe
"Fanfare for Europe" celebrations are held to mark Britains entry into the EU
1974
1974 February
Election
Enoch Powell decides he cannot stand for the Conservatives because of their EU policy
1974 February
Election
Enoch Powell decides he cannot stand for the Conservatives because of their EU policy
1974 9th December
Conference of EC
Attends EC Summit where "the British problem" & the "European Council" are discussed
1975
1975 23rd January
EEC Referendum Announcement
Announces for the first time in the Commons a referendum will be held on EEC membership
1975 23rd January
Referendum
Announces for the first time in the Commons a referendum will be held on EEC membership
1975 March
Meeting
A "financial mechanism" is agreed to prevent Britain from paying the EC too much
1975 9th April
Commons EEC Membership Vote
The Commons votes by 396 to 170 to stay in the EEC
1975 26th September
Budget
Proposes a Public Accounts Committee for the European Parliament to control expenditure
1979
1979
Election
Elected EU Euro Member of Parliament for Greater Manchester North from 1979 - 1984, then elected for another five years following this, representing Greater Manchester West from 1984 - 1989
1983
1983
Declaration of EU
Signs a "symbolic declaration on European Union"
1989
1989 July
Report
Opposes proposals for a single currency & a central bank for the EU
1990
1990
Election
Awarded the Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany in 1990, for services to EU European democracy
1992
1992 December
Conference of Edinburgh
Chairs the EU summit
1994
1994 6th December
Reform of Economic Policy
Vetoes an EU directive to give part time workers the same rights as full time workers
1995
1995 3rd February
Reform of Currency
Promises Britain will not back a proposed single EU currency before 1997
1997
1997 18th June
EU Social Chapter
Britain signs up to the EUs Social Chapter
2003
2003 9th June
Economy of Great Britain
Finance minister Brown rules out British adoption of the EU euro, dashing Blair hopes of placing Britain "at the heart of the European Union"
Editorial provenance
Sources and editorial review
Compiled and edited by World History Database.
Historical context is editorial material; the chronology is generated from World History Database EEC records.
Last reviewed: September 2026.
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