Am Anfang der 70er Jahren, während in Brüssel die Beitrittsverhandlungen des Vereinigten Königreichs in die Europäischen Gemeinschaften stattfinden, äußeren britische Demonstranten ihre Opposition zum gemeinsamen Markt und fordern die Abhaltung einer Volksabstimmung.

In 1971, the cartoonist Geisen illustrates the difficult position of Edward Heath, British Prime Minister, who is in favour of the United Kingdom’s accession to the European Communities but is hindered by the terms laid down by the House of Commons and the Opposition, under the watchful eye of Harold Wilson, leader of the Labour Party.

On 20 and 21 January 1971, MPs in the House of Commons discuss the issues involved in the accession of the United Kingdom to the European Communities.

On 17 February 1971, the Belgian daily newspaper Le Soir publishes an interview with Maurice Schumann, French Foreign Minister and President-in-Office of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the European Economic Community, in which he analyses the accession of four new Member States, including the United Kingdom, and emphasises the effects of this accession on the plan for a monetary union.

In June 1971, Alec Douglas-Home, British Foreign Minister, delivers a speech to the House of Commons, in which he explains the importance of the United Kingdom’s accession to the European common market.

Prior to the vote in the House of Commons, on 28 October 1971, on the principle of the accession of the United Kingdom to the European Communities, demonstrators take to the streets of London in support of British participation in the common market.

Am 12. Juli 1971 untersucht das deutsche Nachrichtenmagazin Der Spiegel den Werbefeldzug des britischen Premierministers Edward Heath, der die Briten vom Beitritt zum Gemeinsamen Markt überzeugen soll.

On 28 October 1971, after lengthy debates, the House of Commons approves the United Kingdom’s membership of the European Economic Community (EEC) in a vote immediately described as historic.

Dans ses Mémoires, Edward Heath, ancien Premier ministre britannique, se souvient du vote favorable de la Chambre des Communes qui, le 17 février 1972, se prononce par 309 voix contre 301 pour l'adoption de la demande d'adhésion de la Grande-Bretagne à la CEE.

In einer am 28. Oktober 1971 gehaltenen Rede zeigt sich Walter Scheel, Bundesminister des Auswärtigen, zufrieden über die positive Abstimmung des britischen Unterhauses über den Beitritt Englands zur Europäischen Gemeinschaft.

Am 28. Oktober 1971 stimmt das britische Unterhaus für den Beitritt des Vereinigten Königreichs zur Europäischen Wirtschaftsgemeinschaft (EWG). Einige Stunden vor der Abstimmung zeigt diese RTL-Reportage noch, dass der Ausgang nicht sicher ist.

On 4 October 1971, Albert Coppé, Member of the Commission of the European Communities responsible for Social Affairs, receives Northern Irish members of the British delegation for the negotiations on the United Kingdom’s accession to the European Communities.

On 29 October 1971, the headlines in the British press report that Britain is set to join the Common Market.

On 29 October 1971, Georges Berthoin, head of the delegation of the European Communities to the United Kingdom, sends a telex to the Members of the European Commission confirming the British Parliament’s vote in favour of the country’s accession to the EEC.

In an interview with France-Inter on 29 October 1971, Maurice Schumann, French Foreign Minister, welcomes the positive vote in the House of Commons on the issue of British accession to the European Economic Community (EEC).

Published in French daily newspaper Le Figaro, this cartoon by Faizant depicts the efforts made by the six founder countries of the European Economic Community (EEC) to pave the way for the United Kingdom's accession to the common market.

‘About time …' On 28 October 1971, by a ‘historic' vote, the House of Commons approves the United Kingdom's accession to the European Communities and opens up a new chapter in the history of cooperation between European nations that were formerly in conflict.

On 29 October 1971, the Italian daily newspaper Corriere della Sera welcomes the House of Commons decision to approve, in principle, the accession of the United Kingdom to the European Communities.

In its editorial of 29 October 1971, French daily newspaper Le Figaro comments on the approval, by the British parliament, of the principle of the UK's accession to the European common market. .

'Successful landing manoeuvre'. The United Kingdom finally rejects its isolationist policy and its insular tradition and joins the united Europe.

Edward Heath, UK representative at the negotiations on the accession of the United Kingdom to the European Communities, signs, on 22 January 1972 in Brussels, the Accession Treaty in his capacity as Prime Minister.

In February 1972, Sir Robin Turton, Conservative Member of the UK Parliament, explains why he opposed the United Kingdom’s accession to the European Communities.

On 28 March 1972, British Labour MP, Tony Benn, writes a letter to Sicco Mansholt, President of the European Commission, in which he sets out the reasons for Labour's opposition to the accession of the United Kingdom to the European common market.

On 12 April 1972, Sicco Mansholt, President of the European Commission, sends a letter to Labour MP, Tony Benn, in which he denounces the anti-European attitude of the British Labour Party.

In December 1972, the UK survey agency, Gallup, publishes the results of a poll on the trends in the British perceptions of the European Common Market between 1957 and 1972.

Am 1. Januar 1973 treten Dänemark, das Vereinigte Königreich und Irland den Europäischen Gemeinschaften bei, die somit neun Mitglieder zählen.