1960
Intergovernmental Europe Policy
De Gaulle promoted cooperation between sovereign European states while resisting further transfer of national powers to supranational institutions.
European integration · permanent subject timeline
Charles de Gaulle
French president whose European policy shaped EEC debates in the 1960s. This page combines historical context with 18 matching records drawn directly from the World History Database EEC archive.
Historical context
Charles de Gaulle: overview and significance
What happened?
Charles de Gaulle supported cooperation among European states but resisted forms of supranational authority that he believed weakened national sovereignty.
Why was it important?
His role in the Fouchet Plans, British membership vetoes and Empty Chair Crisis made him central to the EEC's early institutional conflicts.
World History Database records
Charles de Gaulle timeline
The records below are selected from the 936-record EEC and European integration archive and rendered as static HTML in chronological order.
1960
1962
1962 30th July
Common Agricultural Policy Launch
De Gaulle strongly supported the Common Agricultural Policy as a central economic interest for France within the EEC.
1962
Fouchet Plan, The
De Gaulle backed the Fouchet Plan, which proposed a political union based on cooperation between European governments.
1962
Fouchet Plan, The
Draws up the Fouchet Plan for a union of European based around the EU
1962
Fouchet Plan, The
De Gaulle fears a loss of French influence in the European Communities, which was becoming more and more supranational so the Plan is an attempt to keep the balance of power in France's favour
1962
Fouchet Plan, The
De Gaulle supported the Fouchet proposals as an alternative to further supranational expansion of the European Communities.
1962
Fouchet Plan, The
Draws up the Fouchet Plan for a union of Europe based around the EU
1962
Fouchet Plan, The
The Fouchet negotiations failed when other Community members rejected France's preferred intergovernmental model.
1962
Fouchet Plan, The
The success of the European Communities and the lack of enthusiasm of other states stops the Fouchet Plan
1962
Unification
Draws up the Fouchet Plan for a union of European based around the EU
1963
1963 14th January
British Membership Veto
De Gaulle publicly opposed Britain's first application to join the European Economic Community.
1963 22nd January
Franco-German European Cooperation
The Elysee Treaty strengthened Franco-German consultation, reinforcing a partnership central to later Community development.
1964
1964
Community Agricultural Financing
De Gaulle pressed for stable Community financing of the Common Agricultural Policy, a major French priority.
1965
1965 2nd July
Empty Chair Crisis
France began boycotting Council meetings during the Empty Chair crisis over agricultural finance and institutional voting.
1966
1966 29th January
Luxembourg Compromise
The Luxembourg Compromise ended the Empty Chair crisis and protected unanimity when a member claimed vital national interests.
1967
1967 1st July
Merger Treaty Takes Effect
The Merger Treaty took effect, creating a single Commission and Council for the three European Communities.
1967 27th November
Second British Membership Veto
De Gaulle again opposed British membership, delaying enlargement of the European Communities.
1968
1968 1st July
Customs Union Completion
France joined the other EEC members in completing the customs union and abolishing internal customs duties.
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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