EFTA and EEC Flashcards
what did ww2 do to Britain?
left Britain badly damaged, and burdened with a lot of debt, the shadow of two military superpowers (USA and USSR)
in 1947
britain’s ambassador in Washington had to inform the Americans that Britain faced bankruptcy and would have to withdraw commitment to Greece, Turkey and palestine
in 1947 as well which countries were granted independence?
India and Pakistan- signal start of Britain’s ‘retreat from empire’
Atlantic alliance
term used to refer to NATO, formed in 1949 to defend the Western alliance the Cold war- made up of 12 countries including Britain
-if one member attacked, defended by all
what acted as the foundations of the European Economic Community (EEC)
The Schuman Plan of 1950
The Schuman Plan of 1950
-named after foreign minister Robert Schuman
-set out the proposals for a coal and steel community that would integrate French + German heavy industry in order to promote rapid economic reconstruction
-also to bind together historic enemies France and Germany + eliminate dangers of future wars between them
the schuman plan was strongly supported by
Britain and US, important contributions to the security of Europe
-seen as vital in beginning of the cold war
Britain did not initially become involved with EEC why? (leadership role)
- few politicians or journalists in favor of Britain taking leadership role in Europe that was on offer
Britain did not initially become involved with EEc why? (the left)
-the left tended to be suspicious of the free market principles behind the common market
Britain did not initially become involved with EEC why? (continental Europe)
-belief that it was an issue for continental Europe, Germans had been deadly wartime enemies, France had been overrun + occupied whist Britain had ‘won the war’
Britain did not initially become involved why? (right)
-right tended to regard the preservation of traditional trade links with Australia, Canada and New Zealand as far more important than those with Europe
Britain did not initially become involved why? (assumption of Britain)
-there was an assumption that Britain was still a great world power
Britain did not initially become involved why? (special relationship)
-Britain wanted to balance its involvement in Europe with maintaining its ‘special relationship’ with the US
special relationship
describes the close relationship between the united kingdom and the us
-strengthened by allies during cold war, common objective resisting power of the ussr
where did the EEC take shape?
took shape at an international conference in Messina, Sicily in 1955
agreements were then developed in detail and what was launched?
The Treaty of rome launched the EEC, without Britain, in 1957
the EEC was dominated by?
the partnership between France and Germany
what was the EEC(European Economic Community)
an economic union, often known as the common market
-first established by the treaty of Rome in 1957 as a common market to promote economic growth in its 6 founding countries
- six founder members were: France, Germany, Italy, and ‘Benelux’ countries (Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg)
what did the EEC become in 1992
the European Union
What was the french president from 1958, Charles DeGaulle determined to protect?
he was determined to protect the partnership from Britain
in 1959 Britain took the lead in the formation of?
the European Free Trade Association (EFTA)
the EFTA compared to the EEC
the EFTA was only moderately succesful and the new organisation was not able to match the economic growth of the EEC
EFTA(European Free Trade Association)
-created in 1960 by Britain along with Austria,Denmark,Norway,Portugal,Sweden and Switzerland as an alternative to EEC
EFTA why was it created
created by Britain as an alternative to the EEC as a free trade area.
-members were known as the ‘outer seven’
order of creations
-the Schuman plan(1950)
-EEC(1957)
-EFTA(1960)
what happened in 1961?
the Macmillian gov submitted an application for Britain to join the EEC
