De Gaulles zweites Veto
De Gaulles zweites Veto
Im Vorfeld des zweiten Veto
Cartoon by Cummings on De Gaulle and the United Kingdom's accession to the EEC (24 February 1965)
BildOn 24 February 1965, the French daily newspaper Le Figaro depicts General de Gaulle as the leader of Europe, showing scant enthusiasm towards the British delegation who have come to negotiate the conditions for the United Kingdom's accession to the European Communities.
Speech by George Brown at the Tenth Congress of the Socialist International (Stockholm, 6 May 1966)
TextOn 6 May 1966, the tenth congress of the Socialist International is held in Stockholm. On that occasion, George Brown, British Minister for Economic Affairs, delivers a speech in which he describes the conditions which must be fulfilled so that the United Kingdom might join the European Economic Community (EEC).
Speech by Edward Heath (Blackpool, 15 October 1966)
TextOn 15 October 1966, Edward Heath, leader of the British Conservative Party, delivers a speech to Conservative Party members at a meeting held in Blackpool. He emphasises the importance of membership of the European Economic Community (EEC) for the United Kingdom.
Cartoon by Behrendt on the difficult negotiations for the United Kingdom’s accession to the European Communities (1967)
BildIn 1967, as the United Kingdom submits its second application for accession to the European Economic Community (EEC), French President Charles de Gaulle represents the main obstacle for British Prime Minister Harold Wilson to overcome, despite the help of the other European countries.
Address given by Harold Wilson (Strasbourg, 23 January 1967)
TextOn 23 January 1967, speaking from the platform of the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe, the British Prime Minister, Harold Wilson, argues the case for the United Kingdom’s application for accession to the European Economic Community (EEC).
Question and answer session at the Council of Europe (23 January 1967)
TextOn 23 January 1967 the British Prime Minister, Harold Wilson, during a visit to the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe, replies to questions posed to him regarding the United Kingdom’s integration within the European Economic Community (EEC).
Television interview with Maurice Couve de Murville (25 January 1967)
TextOn 25 January 1967, in his comments on the meeting which took place the previous day in Paris between the British Prime Minister, Harold Wilson, and the French President, Charles de Gaulle, the French Foreign Minister, Maurice Couve de Murville, gives his impressions of the Franco–British exchange of views on the United Kingdom's accession to the European Communities.
Telegram from Maurice Couve de Murville to the French Permanent Representation in Brussels (January 1967)
TextAfter the meeting between British Prime Minister, Harold Wilson, and French President, Charles de Gaulle, on 25 January 1967 in Paris, the French Foreign Minister, Maurice Couve de Murville, sets out in a telegram to the French Permanent Representation in Brussels what the two governments discussed concerning the accession of the United Kingdom to the European Communities.
Letter from Albert Borschette to Pierre Grégoire (Brussels, 25 January 1967)
TextOn 25 January 1967, Albert Borschette, Permanent Representative to the European Communities, sends to Pierre Grégoire, Luxembourg’s Foreign Minister, a letter in which he analyses the statements made by the British Government concerning that country’s possible accession to the European Communities.
Karikatur von Behrendt über de Gaulle und den Beitritt des Vereinigten Königreichs zu den EG
Bild„Auf dem Wege zur EWG“ stellt der französische Staatspräsident Charles de Gaulle das höchste und schwierigste Hindernis für den britischen Premierminister Harold Wilson dar.
Cartoon by Köhler on General de Gaulle and the British application for accession to the EC (26 January 1967)
BildOn 26 January 1967, the cartoonist from the German daily newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung criticises the accession conditions imposed by General de Gaulle on British participation in the European common market.
Cartoon by Opland on De Gaulle and the membership of the United Kingdom to the EC (28 January 1967)
Bild‘… magnificent nature … Cap Gris Nez ("Cape Grey Nose").' On 28 November 1967, for Opland, Dutch cartoonist, the hopes of Harold Wilson, British Prime Minister, to see the United Kingdom join the Common Market are dashed against the ‘de Gaulle head'.
‘Britain and the Six’ from La Libre Belgique (30 January 1967)
TextOn 30 January 1967, in the Brussels daily newspaper La Libre Belgique, Paul Struye, Belgian Senator, analyses the significance of the address delivered by Harold Wilson, British Prime Minister, to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and outlines the obstacles that need to be overcome if the United Kingdom is to be able to accede to the European Communities.
Summary record of the visits paid by Harold Wilson and George Brown ’s visits to the capital citiess of all six EEC Member States (Brussels, 30 March 1967)
TextOn 30 March 1967, the Belgian Foreign Minister writes a report on the visits made by the British Prime Minister, Harold Wilson, and his Foreign Secretary, George Brown, to the European capital cities in order to argue for the United Kingdom’s accession to the European Economic Community.
‘A declaration of faith which has been expected for the past 20 years’ from Le Soir (3 May 1967)
TextOn 3 May 1967, the Belgian daily newspaper Le Soir outlines the arguments in favour of the accession, albeit with certain preconditions, of the United Kingdom to the European Communities.
‘Agriculture is the most serious Common Market obstacle for the UK' from the Corriere della Sera (5 May 1967)
TextOn 5 May 1967, commenting on the ongoing accession negotiations between the United Kingdom and the Common Market, the Milanese newspaper Corriere della Sera analyses the difficulties inherent in adapting British agriculture to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
‘The extended hand’ from La Libre Belgique (16 May 1967)
TextOn 16 May 1967, in the Brussels daily newspaper La Libre Belgique, Paul Struye, Belgian Senator, supports the accession of the United Kingdom to the European Communities, despite the difficulties that this would pose, as long as genuine political will is demonstrated by all those involved.
‘The size of Europe’ from Le monde du travail (19 May 1967)
TextOn 19 May 1967, dismissing the arguments put forward by the French President, General de Gaulle, three days earlier at a press conference in Paris, Le monde du travail, published by the Liège Province Federation of the Belgian Socialist Party (PSB), argues in favour of the United Kingdom’s accession to the European Communities.
‘One more time: what kind of Europe?’ from Le Soir (30 May 1967)
TextOn 30 May 1967, commenting in the Brussels daily newspaper Le Soir on the possible accession of the United Kingdom to the European Communities, Marcel Grégoire, former Belgian Minister for Justice, emphasises the need for the Six to define together the objectives of European economic and political integration.
‘The United Kingdom and the Common Market’ from La Libre Belgique (29 June 1967)
TextOn 29 June 1967, the Brussels daily newspaper La Libre Belgique expresses its doubts about the United Kingdom being able to accede to the European Communities on a fair and balanced basis.
‘A call to France’ from Nieuw Europa (30 September 1967)
TextOn 30 September 1967, following the United Kingdom’s second application for accession to the European Communities, the Editorial Committee of the Dutch European Movement’s journal Nieuw Europa issues a plea to the French Government to aid the smooth opening and conclusion of the accession negotiations.
Speech by Lord Chalfont (Brussels, 9 October 1967)
TextOn 9 October 1967, in a speech to the Association of European Journalists in Brussels, Lord Chalfont, the British Foreign Minister, defends the United Kingdom's application for accession to the European Common Market.
Im Vorfeld des zweiten Veto
Negotiations on the second British application for membership (1967)
BildOn 25 October 1967, in Luxembourg, the Six open negotiations on the United Kingdom's second application for accession to the European Communities. Joseph Luns, Dutch Foreign Minister, pays close attention to reaction in the British press.
Karikatur von Lang zum Beitritt des Vereinigten Königreichs zur EG (28. Oktober 1967)
Bild„Tröstung - Kiesinger: „Halt aus, Wilson, ich spiel dir derweil was vor …‘“ Am 28. Oktober 1967 veranschaulicht der deutsche Karikaturist Ernst Maria Lang die Schwierigkeiten des britischen Premierministers Harold Wilson, den zweiten Antrag des Vereinigten Königreichs auf Beitritt zu den Europäischen Gemeinschaften zu einem erfolgreichen Abschluss zu bringen. Trotz der Unterstützung seitens des deutschen Bundeskanzlers Kurt Georg Kiesinger zeigt sich der Präsident der Französischen Republik, Charles de Gaulle, gegenüber Harold Wilson weiterhin unnachgiebig.
Das zweite Veto
Pressekonferenz von Charles de Gaulle: das zweite Veto (Paris, 27. November 1967)
VideoAm 27. November 1967 gibt der französische Staatspräsident General de Gaulle eine Pressekonferenz im Elysée-Palast, auf der er seinen Widerstand gegen den Beitritt des Vereinigten Königreichs zu den Europäischen Gemeinschaften wiederholt und erläutert.
Press conference held by General de Gaulle at the Elysée (27 November 1967)
TextOn 27 November 1967, General de Gaulle holds a press conference at the Élysée Palace during which he restates and explains his opposition to the United Kingdom’s accession to the European Common Market.
Reply by Harold Wilson to the press conference by President de Gaulle (London, 29 November 1967)
TextOn 29 November 1967, commenting on the veto on British accession repeated two days earlier by General de Gaulle during a press conference in Paris, Harold Wilson, British Prime Minister refutes each of the arguments put forward by opponents of the United Kingdom’s accession to the European Communities.
Cartoon by Behrendt on the French opposition to British accession to the EC (1968)
Bild‘Harold Wilson’s nightmare.’ In 1968, the cartoonist Fritz Behrendt describes British Prime Minister Harold Wilson’s nightmare when, like his counterpart Harold Macmillan in 1963, he comes up against General de Gaulle’s veto on British accession to the European Communities.
Cartoon by Papas on the question of British membership to the EC (29 November 1967)
Bild‘Oh well — back to the compass.’ On 27 November 1967, General de Gaulle uses his veto to oppose the United Kingdom's accession to the European common market. For George Brown, British Foreign Minister, and for Harold Wilson, British Prime Minister, the road to unified Europe seems to be blocked off.
Statement made by the Netherlands Government (November 1967)
TextIn November 1967, the Netherlands Government strongly criticises the French decision to prevent negotiations for the United Kingdom’s accession from going ahead and calls on other European countries to support the British application.
‘Strasbourg: European Parliament angered over French "blackmail" threat of a break-up of the Six' from Le Monde (30 November 1967)
TextOn 30 November 1967, the French daily newspaper Le Monde reviews the reactions of the various political groups of the European Parliament to the press conference held by General de Gaulle.
‘Europe on the move', from Corriere della Sera (21 December 1967)
TextOn 21 December 1967, the Milanese daily newspaper Corriere della Sera deplores General de Gaulle’s decision to oppose the United Kingdom’s accession to the European Economic Community (EEC).
Interview mit Georges Berthoin (Paris, 22. Juli 2005) – Auszug: das Verhältnis zwischen de Gaulle und dem Vereinigten Königreich
VideoIn diesem Interview schildert Georges Berthoin, Delegationsleiter der Hohen Behörde der Europäischen Gemeinschaft für Kohle und Stahl (EGKS) und später der Kommission der Europäischen Gemeinschaften im Vereinigten Königreich bis 1973, den Stand der Beziehungen zwischen General de Gaulle und den führenden Politikern des Vereinigten Königreichs zum Zeitpunkt der wiederholten Weigerung Frankreichs in den Jahren 1963 und 1967, Beitrittsverhandlungen zwischen dem Vereinigten Königreich und den Europäischen Gemeinschaften aufzunehmen.
Die Suche nach einer Lösung
‘Italy's firm stance on the United Kingdom's accession to the European Common Market' from the Corriere della Sera (8 December 1967)
TextOn 8 December 1967, the Italian daily newspaper Corriere della Sera publishes the remarks made by the Italian Foreign Minister, Amintore Fanfani, who is in favour of the United Kingdom's accession to the European Common Market.
Memorandum of the British government to the Luxembourg government (15 December 1967)
TextOn 15 December 1967, in a memorandum addressed to the Luxembourg Government, the British Government emphasises the importance of the United Kingdom’s accession to the European Communities.
Internal memorandum from the Luxembourg Foreign Ministry (Luxembourg, 16 December 1967)
TextOn 16 December 1967, an internal memorandum from the Luxembourg Foreign Ministry outlines the details of an interview with the French Chargé d’Affaires regarding the consequences of France’s refusal to allow the United Kingdom’s accession to the Common Market.
‘The British examine their potential attitudes towards Europe' from Le Monde (16 December 1967)
TextOn 16 December 1967, the French daily newspaper Le Monde outlines the attitude of the British Government in the face of France’s refusal to accept the United Kingdom’s accession to the Common Market.
‘Brussels Today' from Le Figaro (18 December 1967)
TextOn 18 December 1967, faced with the French Government’s refusal to allow the United Kingdom’s accession to the European Economic Community, the French daily newspaper Le Figaro considers the decision taken by the Council of Ministers of the Six on the opening of accession negotiations with the United Kingdom.
Communiqué issued by the Council of the European Communities (19 December 1967)
TextOn 19 December 1967, following the meeting of the Six in Brussels, the Council of the European Communities issues a communiqué reporting on the Council’s failure to reach agreement on the continuation of the accession negotiations.
Interview de Maurice Couve de Murville accordée à France Inter à l'issue de la réunion des Six (Bruxelles, 19 décembre 1967)
TextLe 19 décembre 1967, l'issue de la réunion des Six à Bruxelles, Maurice Couve de Murville, ministre français des Affaires étrangères, explique les raisons de l'échec des Six pour trouver un accord qui permettrait de reprendre les négociations avec le Royaume-Uni.
Communiqué du Foreign Office (19 décembre 1967)
TextLe 19 décembre 1967, le ministère des Affaires étrangères du Royaume-Uni publie un communiqué en réaction au veto du général de Gaulle à l'adhésion britannique au Marché commun européen.
Address given by Lord George Brown (London, 20 December 1967)
TextOn 20 December 1967, the day following the meeting of the Council of Ministers of the Six, Lord George Brown, British Foreign Secretary, informs the House of Commons of the action to be taken by the Government.
Communiqué issued by the Commission of the European Communities (20 December 1967)
TextOn 20 December 1967, the European Commission calls on the Six to reach agreement on the continuation of the negotiations for the United Kingdom’s accession to the EEC following the disagreement that occurred the previous day in the Council.
Die Suche nach einer Lösung
‘Six against one' from L'Express (25 December 1967)
TextOn 25 December 1967, the French weekly magazine L’Express analyses reactions to France’s opposition to British accession to the EEC, a position that it restated at the meeting of the Council held on 19 December.
Karikatur von Ironimus zum schwierigen Beitritt Großbritanniens zu den EG (1968)
Bild„Das EWG-Nadelöhr.“ Im Jahre 1968 illustriert der österreichische Karikaturist Ironimus die Bemühungen des bundesdeutschen Außenministers Willy Brandt, dem Beitrittsgesuch des Vereinigten Königreichs zu den Europäischen Gemeinschaften trotz des Widerstandes durch General de Gaulle stattzugeben.
‘What can the Netherlands do now?’ from Nieuw Europa (January 1968)
TextIn June 1968, following French President Charles de Gaulle’s second veto of the United Kingdom’s accession to the European Common Market on 27 November 1967, the monthly journal of the Dutch European Movement Nieuw Europa publishes various opinions on the position which the Dutch Government should adopt.
Benelux meeting in Val Duchesse (Brussels, 15 January 1968)
BildOn 15 January 1968, the three Benelux foreign ministers meet in Val Duchesse and publish a joint memorandum that recommends the establishment of institutional consultations between the EEC and the candidate countries to associate them with the development of the Community. The photo shows, from left to right: Luxembourg Foreign Minister Pierre Grégoire, Belgian Minister for European Affairs and Flemish Culture Renaat Elslande, Dutch Foreign Minister Joseph Luns and Belgian Foreign Minister Pierre Harmel.
Statement by Pierre Harmel before the Belgian Senate (January 1968)
TextOn 17 January 1968, Pierre Harmel, Belgian Foreign Minister, outlines before the Belgian Senate the stance taken by the Belgian Government on the French veto of 19 December 1967 and emphasises the importance of the enlargement process of the European Community.
Déclaration commune publiée à l'issue des entretiens franco-allemands (16 février 1968)
TextLe 16 février 1968, les gouvernements de la France et de la République fédérale d'Allemagne (RFA) adoptent une déclaration commune dans laquelle ils proposent la conclusion d'arrangements économiques entre la Communauté économique européenne et les pays candidats à l'adhésion en attendant que l'élargissement devienne possible.
Interview de Maurice Couve de Murville à l'ORTF sur les entretiens franco-allemands (16 février 1968)
TextLe 16 février 1968, à l'issue des entretiens franco-allemands, Maurice Couve de Murville, ministre français des Affaires étrangères, commente les décisions adoptées par les deux gouvernements en ce qui concerne le problème de la candidature britannique à la Communauté économique européenne (CEE).
Conférence de presse de Couve de Murville à l'issue d'une réunion du Conseil des CE (Bruxelles, 29 février 1968)
TextLe 29 février 1968, à l'issue d'une réunion du Conseil des Communautés européennes tenue sous sa présidence, le ministre français des Affaires étrangères Maurice Couve de Murville, répond aux questions des journalistes relatives aux propositions faites par les États membres en vue de reprendre les négociations d'adhésion avec le Royaume-Uni.
Pierre Grégoire and Pierre Harmel (3 September 1968)
BildPierre Harmel (right), Belgian Foreign Minister, talking with his Luxembourgish counterpart, Pierre Grégoire.
The United Kingdom and the European Community (1968)
BildOn 3 May 1968, Sir Geoffrey De Freitas, British Member of Parliament and President of the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe, raises the European Flag in front of the Parliament buildings at Westminster, to demonstrate his devotion to the European cause in spite of General de Gaulle's second veto, on 27 November 1967, of the United Kingdom's application for accession to the European Communities.