Britain and Europe: major dates Flashcards
1957
The Treaty of Rome creates The European Economic Community (France, West Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg).
1961-1967
Britain twice applices for membership of the E.E.C., a proposal twice vetoed by De Gaulle.
1973
The U.K. joins the E.E.C., a decision confirmed by referendum two years later.
1986
The Single European Act creates the Single Market, that is to say free trade within E.E.C. countries.
1990
Britain enters the E.M.S. (European Monetary System), linking the pound with European currencies, but it has to withdraw two years later because of the declining value of the pound.
1993
The E.E.C. becomes the European Union. The U.K. ratifies the Maastricht Treaty (for closer political, economic and legal cooperation) but opts out of the Social Chapter in order to avoid E.U. regulations on the rights of workers.
1997
Labour’s landslide victory. Tony Blair, a pro-European who had promised to put Britain “at the heart of Europe”, takes a number of important decisions, signing the Social Chapter this year (thus introducing a minimum wage in Britain).
2000
The U.K. adopts the European Convention on Human Rights, which means that European law now takes precedence over British law. Tony Blair proposes a referendum if Britain should join the Euro.
2005
Britain votes in favour of enlargment which, it believes, might work against closer political integration.
The Treaty of Rome creates The European Economic Community (France, West Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg).
1957
Britain twice applices for membership of the E.E.C., a proposal twice vetoed by De Gaulle.
1961-1967
The U.K. joins the E.E.C., a decision confirmed by referendum two years later.
1973
The Single European Act creates the Single Market, that is to say free trade within E.E.C. countries.
1986
Britain enters the E.M.S. (European Monetary System), linking the pound with European currencies, but it has to withdraw two years later because of the declining value of the pound.
1990
The E.E.C. becomes the European Union. The U.K. ratifies the Maastricht Treaty (for closer political, economic and legal cooperation) but opts out of the Social Chapter in order to avoid E.U. regulations on the rights of workers.
1993
