In the early 1970s, while negotiations on the accession of the United Kingdom to the European Communities were taking place in Brussels, British demonstrators express their opposition to the common market and demand that a popular referendum be held.

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.

On 12 July 1971, German weekly Der Spiegel considers the information campaign launched by British Prime Minister, Edward Heath, in an attempt to convince his compatriots that the idea of the United Kingdom's accession to the European Economic Community (EEC) is well-founded.

On 22 October 1971, in anticipation of the forthcoming vote in the House of Commons on the United Kingdom’s accession to the European Economic Community (EEC), the German daily newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung analyses the issues surrounding British accession.

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.

On 28 October 1971, Walter Scheel, German Foreign Minister, expresses his satisfaction at the decision taken by the British Parliament to approve the United Kingdom’s accession to the European Economic Community (EEC).

On 28 October 1971, the House of Commons votes in favour of the accession of the United Kingdom to the European Economic Community (EEC). However, a few hours before the vote, this RTL report shows that the future of the latter remains uncertain.

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 28 October 1971, the House of Commons provisionally approves the accession of the United Kingdom to the European Economic Community (EEC) by 356 votes to 244. The following day, German daily newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung analyses the stance adopted during the debate by the various British political parties.

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.

On 30 October 1971, German daily newspaper Die Welt comments on the favourable vote by the House of Commons which, two days earlier, approved, in principle, the accession of the United Kingdom to the European Economic Community (EEC).

On 30 and 31 October and 1 November 1971, in its coverage of the decision of the House of Commons provisionally to approve the accession of the United Kingdom to the EEC, German daily newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung considers the future role of the United Kingdom within the European common market.

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.

On 1 January 1973, the accession of Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom brings the number of Member States of the European Community to nine.