2.9 Wilson and the EEC Flashcards
Who did Wilson want to focus on making connections with?
Commonwealth and the US
What did Gaitskell say of joining the EEC in 1962?
It would mean ‘the end of Britain as an independent European state…the end of a thousand years of history’
What year did Wilson reapply to the EEC?
1967
Who was keen to resolve relations with Britain?
‘The Friendly Five’
Who was George Brown?
First Secretary of State (64-66)
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (66-68)
What did George Brown want to create?
A politically integrated Europe capable of standing up to the Americans
Why did George Brown want an integrated Europe?
- He did not think the Commonwealth was a good base of power
- He did not want to join an Anglo-American trade zone
- He made the DEA the leading organisation in pro-European policy
How did the left of the Labour Party respond to Wilson’s application?
They insisted it would increase food prices and damage the balance of payments
What did the left regard the EEC as?
A capitalist club
By 1965-67, did the public want membership or not?
They wanted membership
Who was the pro-market leader for the Tories?
Edward Heath
What is supranationalism?
The state or condition of transcending national boundaries, authorities, or interests
Why did Wilson want supranationalism reduced?
It was more palatable
What was the Empty Chair Crisis?
French boycott of the EEC in protest
What did the Empty Chair Crisis give members?
A right of veto on important national matters
