The signing of the Accession Treaty
Statement by Franco Maria Malfatti (Brussels, 21 january 1972)
ImageOn 21 January 1972, the day before the signature of the Treaties of Accession of the United Kingdom, Ireland, Denmark and Norway to the European Communities, Franco Maria Malfatti, President of the European Commission, declares his satisfaction to the press.
Statement by Franco Maria Malfatti (Brussels, 21 January 1972)
Audio extractOn 21 January 1972, the eve of the signing of accession treaties by Denmark, Ireland, Norway and the United Kingdom, Franco Maria Malfatti, President of the European Commission of the European Economic Community, expresses his satisfaction.
Treaty concerning the Accession of the Kingdom of Denmark, Ireland, the Kingdom of Norway and the United Kingdom to the EEC and the EAEC (Brussels, 22 January 1972)
TextTreaty concerning the accession to the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC) of the Kingdom of Denmark, Ireland, the Kingdom of Norway and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Speech by Franco Maria Malfatti (Brussels, 22 January 1972)
TextOn 22 January 1972, at the ceremony to mark the signature, in Brussels, of the Treaties of Accession of Denmark, Ireland, Norway and the United Kingdom to the European Communities, Franco Maria Malfatti, President of the European Commission, delivers a speech on the historical impact of the enlargement of the Communities.
Signing of the Treaties of Accession of Denmark, Ireland, Norway and the United Kingdom to the European Communities: address given by Franco Maria Malfatti (Brussels, 22 January 1972)
VideoOn 22 January 1972, at the opening of the ceremony held to mark the signing of the Accession Treaties of Denmark, Ireland, Norway and the United Kingdom to the European Communities, Franco Maria Malfatti, President of the European Commission, delivers an address at the Egmont Palace in Brussels in which he welcomes the accession of the four countries to the Communities.
Address by Gaston Thorn (Brussels, 22 January 1972)
TextOn 22 January 1972, at the ceremony to mark the signing, in Brussels, of the acts relating to the accession of the four applicant countries (Denmark, Ireland, Norway and the United Kingdom) to the European Economic Communities, Gaston Thorn, President-in-Office of the Council of the European Communities, delivers a speech in which he reiterates the importance of the process of European integration.
Signing of the Treaties of Accession of Denmark, Ireland, Norway and the United Kingdom to the European Communities: address given by Gaston Thorn (Brussels, 22 January 1972)
VideoOn 22 January 1972, at the opening of the ceremony held to mark the signing of the Accession Treaties of Denmark, Ireland, Norway and the United Kingdom to the European Communities, Gaston Thorn, Luxembourg Foreign Minister and President-in-Office of the Council of the European Communities, delivers an address at the Egmont Palace in Brussels in which he pays tribute to the principal actors in the accession negotiations and outlines the new prospects for the Ten.
Speech by John Lynch (Brussels, 22 January 1972)
TextOn 22 January 1972, at the signature of the Treaty of Accession to the European Economic Community (EEC), the Irish Prime Minister, John Lynch, highlights the historical significance of the EEC enlargement process.
Speech by Edward Heath (Brussels, 22 January 1972)
TextOn 22 January 1972, the United Kingdom Delegation signs the Treaty of Accession to the European Economic Community (EEC) in Brussels. On this occasion, British Prime Minister, Edward Heath, focuses on the new role of the European Community on the international stage.
Speech by Jens Otto Krag (Brussels, 22 January 1972)
TextOn 22 January 1972, Danish Prime Minister Jens Otto Krag signs the Treaty of Accession to the European Economic Community (EEC) and makes three wishes for the future of the European Communities.
Speech by Trygve Bratteli (Brussels, 22 January 1972)
TextOn 22 January 1972 in Brussels, Norwegian Prime Minister Trygve Bratteli signs the Treaty of Accession to the European Economic Community (EEC) and delivers a speech on the issues related to EEC enlargement.
Signature of the Act of Accession of the United Kingdom (Brussels, 22 January 1972)
Audio extractOn 22 January 1972, in Brussels, Edward Heath, British Prime Minister, signs the United Kingdom's Treaty of Accession to the European Communities one hour later than anticipated after having been sprayed with ink by a demonstrator opposed to British accession upon his arrival at the Palais d'Egmont.
The signing of the Treaty of Accession of the United Kingdom (Brussels, 22 January 1972)
VideoOn 22 January 1972, in the Egmont Palace in Brussels, Edward Heath, British Prime Minister, signs the Treaty of Accession of the United Kingdom to the European Communities. The ceremony, however, is delayed by one hour following a violent intrusion from a British opponent to accession who sprays ink over the British Prime Minister.
Signing of the Treaties of Accession of Denmark, Ireland, Norway and the United Kingdom to the European Communities: address given by Gaston Eyskens (Brussels, 22 January 1972)
VideoOn 22 January 1972, at the opening of the ceremony held to mark the signing of the Accession Treaties of Denmark, Ireland, Norway and the United Kingdom to the European Communities, Gaston Eyskens, Belgian Prime Minister, delivers an address in which he welcomes the accession of the four countries to the Communities.
Edward Heath is the victim of his European commitment (Brussels, 22 January 1972)
ImageOn 22 January 1972, as the Treaty of Accession of the United Kingdom to the European Communities is signed, Edward Heath, British Prime Minister, is the victim of his European commitment as a young demonstrator throws ink at his face.
Edward Heath signs the United Kingdom’s Treaty of Accession (Brussels, 22 January 1972)
ImageOn 22 January 1972 in Brussels, the British Delegation signs the Treaty of Accession to the European Communities. From left to right: Sir Alec Douglas-Home, Foreign Secretary, Edward Heath, Prime Minister, and Geoffrey Rippon, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and responsible for the accession negotiations.
Signature of The Ten (Brussels, 22 January 1972)
ImageOn 22 January 1972, Walter Hallstein, Joseph Bech, Paul-Henri Spaak, Jean Monnet, Jean-Charles Snoy et d'Oppuers and Jean Duvieusart, in particular, attend the ceremony to mark the signature of the Treaties of Accession of Denmark, Ireland, Norway and the United Kingdom to the European Communities.
Signature of the United Kingdom's Act of Accession (Brussels, 22 January 1972)
ImageOn 22 January 1972, Franco Maria Malfatti, President of the European Commission, congratulates Edward Heath, British Prime Minister, who has just signed the United Kingdom's Treaty of Accession to the European Communities.
Le Journal Inattendu: Jean Monnet (RTL, 22 January 1972)
Audio extractOn 22 January 1972, as the United Kingdom’s Treaty of Accession to the European Communities is signed in Brussels, Jean Monnet, President of the Action Committee for the United States of Europe (ACUSE), welcomes this enlargement of the Communities for which he has so tirelessly campaigned and outlines the difficulties and the implications of the enlarged Europe.
Signature of the Final Act of the conference on the accession of Denmark, Ireland, Norway and the United Kingdom to the EEC (Brussels, 22 January 1972)
VideoOn 22 January 1972 at the Palais d'Egmont in Brussels, following 19 months of diplomatic negotiations, representatives of Denmark, Ireland, Norway and the United Kingdom sign the Treaties of Accession to the European Communities.
The United Kingdom joins the European common market
ImageAs the clock strikes midnight on 1 January 1973, British nationals at an English pub located in Brussels' European district celebrate the United Kingdom's entry into the European Economic Community (EEC).
The accession of the United Kingdom to the EC makes the front pages of British newspapers (London, 1 January 1973)
ImageOn 1 January 1973, a section of the British press enthusiastically announces the United Kingdom's entry into the European common market.
The UK joins the European common market (1 January 1973)
ImageOn 1 January 1973, Sir Ewen Fergusson, United Kingdom Permanent Representative to the European Communities, presents his credentials to André Dubois, Director-Secretary General of the Council.
Message from Georges Pompidou to readers of The Times (3 January 1973)
TextOn 1 January 1973, the United Kingdom becomes a member of the European Communities. Two days later, French President, Georges Pompidou, adresses a message of welcome to the readers of the Times newspaper.
Protests against the common market (London, 6 January 1973)
ImageOn 6 January 1973, the United Kingdom having been a member of the European Communities for less than one week, opponents of the common market demonstrate in front of the London Opera House - where, at the same time, an official gala was being held to mark the creation of the Europe of Nine - to condemn this decision and to lambaste the Prime Minister, Edward Heath, who they accuse of having betrayed the country.
Meeting of the Council of Ministers of the enlarged European Community (Brussels, 15 January 1973)
ImageOn 15 January 1973, John Davies, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, et Sir Alec Douglas-Home, British Foreign Minister, represent the United Kingdom at the first Council of Ministers of the Nine, in Brussels.
Comments from Aims of Industry on the United Kingdom’s accession to the EEC (1973)
TextIn 1973, Aims of Industry, an independent free enterprise corporate lobby group formed by the leaders of the major UK companies, welcomes the United Kingdom’s accession to the European Economic Community (EEC) and outlines the advantages of European integration for the UK’s industry and economy.