Oral history of European integration

The United Kingdom on the road to membership of the European Communities (1968–1975)

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Interview with Sir Brian Unwin (London, 20 May 2015) — Excerpt: His early years in Her Majesty’s Treasury and the Secondary Banking Crisis

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In this interview excerpt, Sir Brian Unwin, a senior official in Her Majesty’s Treasury from 1968 to 1985 and Assistant Secretary of the Financial Institutions Division from 1972 to 1975, describes the reasons why he joined the Treasury. He also discusses the main issues he dealt with during this period, including the Secondary Banking Crisis that affected the United Kingdom from 1973 to 1975.

Interview with Sir Brian Unwin (London, 20 May 2015) — Excerpt: The negotiations on the harmonisation of banking regulation between the United Kingdom and the EEC

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In this interview excerpt, Sir Brian Unwin, a senior official in Her Majesty’s Treasury from 1968 to 1985 and Assistant Secretary of the Financial Institutions Division from 1972 to 1975, discusses the negotiations carried out during this period between the United Kingdom and the European Economic Community (EEC) on the harmonisation of banking regulation. He also describes how it became clear at this time that a reform of British banking legislation was needed.

Interview with Sir Brian Unwin (London, 20 May 2015) — Excerpt: The British reaction to the Hague Summit and to the publication of the ‘Werner Report’

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In this interview excerpt, Sir Brian Unwin, a senior official in Her Majesty’s Treasury from 1968 to 1985 and Assistant Secretary of the Financial Institutions Division from 1972 to 1975, discusses the reaction in the United Kingdom to the revival of European integration initiated at the Hague European Summit on 1 and 2 December 1969 and to the publication of the ‘Werner Report’ on the establishment by stages of Economic and Monetary Union.

Interview with Sir Brian Unwin (London, 20 May 2015) — Excerpt: The referendum on whether or not the United Kingdom should remain in the EEC

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In this interview excerpt, Sir Brian Unwin, a senior official in Her Majesty’s Treasury from 1968 to 1985 and Assistant Secretary of the Financial Institutions Division from 1972 to 1975, describes the political circumstances in the United Kingdom which led to the national referendum on 5 June 1975 on whether or not the country should remain in the European Economic Community (EEC).

Interview with Sir Brian Unwin (London, 20 May 2015) — Excerpt: The referendum on whether or not the United Kingdom should remain in the European Union (EU)

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In this interview excerpt, Sir Brian Unwin, a diplomat in the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office from 1960 to 1968, a senior official in Her Majesty’s Treasury from 1968 to 1985, Chairman of the Board of Her Majesty’s Customs and Excise from 1987 to 1993 and President of the European Investment Bank from 1993 to 1999, gives his views on the planned referendum on whether or not the United Kingdom should stay in the European Union (EU), which British Prime Minister David Cameron has pledged to hold by 2017.