Denis Maher was a former Member of the Irish Delegation to the negotiations on Ireland’s accession to the European Communities. In his memoirs, he comments on the aide-mémoire which the Irish Government sent to the Six in 1961, at the time Ireland’s first application for accession to the European Communities was submitted.

On 1 August 1961, Sean Lemass, Irish Prime Minister, announces to the national parliament that his Government has submitted an initial request for Ireland’s accession to the European Communities.

On 18 January 1962, three days before the opening, in Brussels, of negotiations on Ireland’s accession to the European Communities, Sean Lemass, Irish Prime Minister, reiterates to Members of the Governments of the Six his country’s determination to become a part of the European Community.

On 21 January 1962, following close on the heels of the United Kingdom, Ireland opens negotiations in Brussels with a view to acceding to the European Economic Community (EEC). General de Gaulle’s use of the veto, on 14 January 1963, temporarily puts an end to Ireland’s ambitions.

On 23 October 1962, Emilio Colombo, President-in-Office of the Council of Ministers of the European Communities, agrees to the request made by the Irish Government for negotiations on Ireland’s membership of the European Communities to begin post-haste.

On 15 November 1963, the European Commission draws up a report on the stance taken by Ireland during the negotiations for its accession to the European Economic Community (EEC).

In his memoirs, Denis Maher, former Member of the Irish Delegation to the negotiations on the accession of Ireland to the European Communities, gives an account of the diplomatic talks with the Six.

On 11 May 1967, Jack Lynch, Irish Prime Minister (on the left), visits French President, Georges Pompidou, (on the right) to discuss Ireland's application for membership of the European common market.

On 11 May 1967, the Irish Prime Minister, Jack Lynch, announces to the national parliament, the Dáil, the decision to reiterate the request for Ireland's accession to the European Communities.

On 2 July 1967, the European Commission outlines the political and economic problems posed by Ireland’s accession to the European Economic Community (EEC).

On 25 July 1967, in the Dáil, Irish MPs debate the conditions for Ireland’s accession to the European Economic Community (EEC).

On 27 July 1967, at a meeting held in Brussels with Jean Rey, President of the European Commission, in connection with the negotiations for Irish accession to the European Communities, John Lynch, Irish Prime Minister, emphasises his Government’s European credentials.

On 12 November 1968, the Representation of Ireland to the European Communities submits an aide-mémoire to the European Commission outlining the position of the Irish authorities on the export of cattle and beef to the Six.

On 10 August 1961, the Danish mission to the European Economic Community (EEC) sends a memorandum to the Secretary-General of the Council of Ministers which sets out that country’s position on possible negotiations for accession.

On 12 October 1966, in Brussels, six months before Denmark submits its application for accession to the European Communities, the Danish Prime Minister, Jens Otto Krag, delivers a lecture to the Belgian Royal Institute for International Relations (IRRI) on Denmark’s role in Europe.

On 18 July 1967, on an official visit to the European Commission, Tyge Dahlgaard, Danish Minister for Trade and European Integration, emphasises the importance that Denmark attaches to its accession to the European Economic Community (EEC).

On 19 December 1967, the Council of the European Communities approves the opening of negotiations on the accession of Denmark to the European Economic Community (EEC).

Am 20. Oktober 1967 übermittelt das Europäische Gewerkschaftssekretariat (IBFG) dem Präsidenten der Kommission der Europäischen Gemeinschaften, Jean Rey, eine Mitteilung, in der es sich für eine Erweiterung der Gemeinschaft um das Vereinigte Königreich, Irland, Dänemark und Norwegen ausspricht.

On 20 and 21 June 1969, the European Movement organises an international conference in Dublin on the institutional problems posed by the European Communities’ first enlargement.

In October 1970, Gerardo Zampaglione, Director-General at the Council of Ministers of the European Communities in Brussels, reports on the first enlargement of the Communities and places particular emphasis on the importance of the United Kingdom’s accession for economic and political unification in Europe.