On 13 April 1963, Georges Gorse, French Permanent Representative to the European Communities, sends a letter to Maurice Couve de Murville, French Foreign Minister, describing the procedure adopted by the Commission of the European Economic Community to finalise the association agreement between Greece and the EEC.

On 9 July 1961, Greece and the European Economic Community (EEC) sign an Association Agreement that provides for the possibility of future accession. The Agreement would enter into force on 1 November 1962.

On 9 July 1961, Greece and the European Economic Community (EEC) sign an Association Agreement that provides for the possibility of future accession. At the same time, an agreement on the measures and procedures to be implemented for the application of this Association Agreement is signed.

On 9 July 1961, Greece and the European Economic Community (EEC) sign an Association Agreement that provides for the possibility of future accession. At the same time, an agreement on the financial protocol annexed to this Association Agreement is signed.

On 9 July 1961, Greece and the European Economic Community (EEC) sign an Association Agreement that provides for the possibility of future accession. At the same time, an agreement on the administrative cooperation methods for the application of Articles 7 and 8 of this Association Agreement is signed.

On 9 July 1961, Greece becomes the first European State to sign an Association Agreement with the European Economic Community (EEC).

On 9 July 1961, the association agreement between Greece and the European Economic Community is signed in Athens. On that occasion, Panaiotis Kanellopoulos, Vice-President of the Council of Ministers, highlights the fundamental political significance of the agreement.

On 9 July 1961, the Greek and European representatives attend a gala dinner in Athens following the signature of the association agreement between Greece and the EEC. In an address given at the dinner, Constantin Caramanlis, President of the Greek Council of Ministers, welcomes the new link between the Greek people and the Community.

On 9 July 1961, Jean Rey, European Commissioner and principle negotiator of the accession agreement between Greece and the European Economic Community (EEC), describes the agreement signed that same day in Athens as a decisive stage in the process of European unification.

In September 1961, Jean Rey, Member of the Commission of the European Economic Community (EEC), draws attention to the economic implications of the association agreement, signed in Athens on 9 July 1961, between Greece and the EEC.

On 24 August 1962, the Council of the European Economic Community (EEC) issues a note on the objectives of the Association Agreement between Greece and the EEC.

On 1 November 1962, the Association Agreement between Greece and the European Community came into force. President of the Commission of the European Economic Community Walter Hallstein and Greek Prime Minister Konstantinos Karamanlis express their pleasure at future collaboration between the EEC and Greece.

At the time the Association Agreement between Greece and the European Economic Community (EEC) came into force on 1 November 1962, EEC Commission President Walter Hallstein gave a statement concerning the important role which Greece plays within Europe.

In this interview, Hans-August Lücker, former general rapporteur on the accession of Greece to the European Economic Community (EEC) in the European Parliament, recalls the importance for the Six of concluding an Association Agreement with Greece and emphasises the main aspects of the negotiations with regard to agriculture.

On 11 December 1965, the European Parliament expressed its satisfaction at the completion of work by the EEC-Greece Joint Parliamentary Committee.

On 21 April 1967, the coup d’état in Greece brings to power a military junta known as the ‘regime of the Greek colonels’ and led by (from left to right) General Georgios Zoitakis, Regent; Brigadier General Stylianos Pattakos, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior; and Colonel Georgios Papadopoulos, Prime Minister.

On 2 June 1967, the European Parliament condemns the installation of a dictatorial military regime in Greece and calls for the suspension of the Association Agreement between the European Economic Community (EEC) and Greece pending a return to democratic values in the country.

On his return from Athens in September 1974, Cornelis Berkhouwer, President of the European Parliament, gives his impressions of the possible accession of Greece to the European Economic Community (EEC), in the monthly publication 30 jours d'Europe.

En mars 1975, le mensuel français Le Monde diplomatique analyse les difficultés économiques héritées de la dictature militaire auxquelles la Grèce doit faire face dans ses efforts pour réformer son économie.

On 12 June 1975, Konstantinos Karamanlis, Greek Prime Minister, sends Greece’s application for accession to the European Economic Community (EEC) to Garret FitzGerald, President-in-Office of the Council of the European Communities.

On 12 June 1975, Konstantinos Karamanlis, Greek Prime Minister, sends Greece’s application for accession to the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC) to Garret FitzGerald, President-in-Office of the Council of the European Communities.

On 12 June 1975, Konstantinos Karamanlis, Greek Prime Minister, sends Greece’s application for accession to the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) to Garret FitzGerald, President-in-Office of the Council of the European Communities.

On 12 June 1975, Stephanos Stathatos, Greek Ambassador to Brussels, presents to Brendan Dillon, Irish Permanent Representative to the European Communities, an official application for Greece's accession to the European Communities, of which Ireland currently holds the rotating presidency.

On 5 June 1975, Greece offically applied for membership to the European Communities. The German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung sets out some negative arguments which could dog this country's accession.

On 13 June 1975, French newspaper Le Figaro comments on the official application made by Greece for accession to the European Communities and outlines the difficulties in terms of its agricultural system and budgetary matters.

In June 1975, the French cartoonist, Plantu, illustrates Greece's official application for accession to the European Communities.

On 29 January 1976, the European Commission delivers its opinion on the application for membership of the European Economic Community (EEC) by Greece.

On 6 February 1976, German weekly Die Zeit describes the concern felt by the Commission of the European Communities with regard to Greece's economic underdevelopment and the financial cost of Greek accession to the Communities.

On 9 February 1976, the Council of the European Communities states that it is in favour of Greece’s application for accession to the European Communities.

On 11 February 1976, the French newspaper Le Figaro comments on Greece's reaction to the decision of the Council of Ministers of the Nine to accept the Greek application to join the European Communities without the requirement of a pre-accession probation period.

On 11 February 1976, the French newspaper Le Monde describes the implications of the Council decision not to impose a pre-accession probationary period on Greece.

On 16 February 1976, commenting on the opening of negotiations for Greek accession to the European Communities, the German weekly magazine Der Spiegel analyses Greek economic structures.

On 16 February 1976, the Belgian newspaper La Libre Belgique welcomes the positive decision taken by the Nine concerning Greece’s application for accession to the European Communities, while describing the problems raised by this decision, particularly at an institutional and agro-economic level.

On 20 October 1976, Greek Prime Minister Konstantinos Karamanlis explains to the Greek Parliament what the negotiations for accession to the European Communities represent for the country.

On 12 June 1975, Greece requests accession to the European Communities. In November 1976, in the monthly publication 30 jours d'Europe, Laurent Leblond describes the political and economic situation in Greece.

On 5 March 1977, writing in the French daily newspaper Le Nouveau Journal, Xenophon Zolotas, Governor of the Bank of Greece, outlines the reasons behind the Greek application for accession to the European Communities.

The negotiations for Greece’s accession to the European Communities officially began on 27 July 1976. This document, dated March 1977, reviews the situation to date.

Le 23 mai 1977, le journal La Vie Française se demande si l'adhésion de leur pays aux Communautés européennes répond vraiment aux attentes des Grecs.

In November 1977, the French monthly publication Le Monde Diplomatique analyses the attitude of Greek employers and the Greek State towards the implications of the accession of their country to the European Communities.

In 1978, Gaston Thorn, Prime Minister of Luxembourg, reviews the dangers and opportunities presented by the second enlargement of the European Communities and wonders when and under what conditions the accession of Greece should take place.

On 22 December 1978, the daily newspaper La Libre Belgique gives an account of the preparatory process for Greece’s application for accession to the European Communities and provides an initial assessment of the diplomatic negotiations.

Dans la revue fédéraliste L'Europe en formation, Georges Contogeorgis, ministre grec chargé des relations avec les Communautés européennes, fait un historique des relations entre la Grèce et les CE et analyse les perspectives d'avenir de son pays au sein de la Communauté.

In this interview, Hans-August Lücker, former Vice-President of the European Union of Christian Democrats (EUCD) and former Vice-President of the European Parliament, recalls the reluctance shown by the Greek Orthodox Church in the late 1970s to approve Greece’s accession to the European Communities.

In its Opinion of 23 May 1979 on the application submitted by Greece for accession to the European Communities, the Commission recalls that the principles of pluralist democracy and respect for human rights form part of the common heritage of the peoples of the States which constitute the European Communities and are therefore essential elements for membership of the said Communities.

On 24 May 1979, the Council of the European Communities decides to accept the application for admission of Greece to the European Economic Community (CEE) and to the European Atomic Energy Community (CEEA).

On 24 May 1979, the Council of the European Communities approves the accession of Greece to the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC).

On 26 May 1979, the French weekly newspaper L’Express analyses the efforts undertaken by Konstantinos Karamanlis, Greek Prime Minister, to prepare his country for accession to the European Community.

On 29 May 1979, British daily newspaper The Guardian highlights the advantages of the recent European enlargement and welcomes the efforts made by Greece to accede to the European Communities.

On 27 May 1979, the Spanish daily newspaper El País analyses the political situation in Greece on the eve of the signature by that country of the Treaty of Accession to the European Communities.

On 28 May 1979, as Greece signs its Treaty of Accession to the European Communities, Greek Prime Minister Konstantinos Karamanlis emphasises the historic importance of this day for his country.

On 28 May 1979, in Athens, Greek Prime Minister Konstantinos Karamanlis signs the Treaty of Accession of the Hellenic Republic to the European Communities. The photo shows the preparation of the documents a few hours before they are signed.

On 28 May 1979, at the Zappeion Palace in Athens, Greece signs the Treaty of Accession to the European Communities.

On 28 May 1979 in Athens, Konstantinos Karamanlis signs the Treaty relating to the Accession of the Hellenic Republic to the European Communities.

Le 29 mai 1979, au lendemain de la signature à Athènes des actes relatifs à l'adhésion de la Grèce aux Communautés européennes, le quotidien français Le Monde dresse le portrait du dixième membre des CE.

On 29 May 1979, the day after the signing in Athens of the documents concerning the accession of Greece to the European Communities, the Europe of Ten reflects on its new profile.

In this interview, Jean-Jacques Kasel, Head of the Private Office of the Luxembourg Minister for Foreign Affairs, Gaston Thorn, from 1979 to 1981, emphasises the reservations expressed in some Member States of the European Communities concerning Greece’s application for accession to the European Economic Community (EEC).

Dans la revue fédéraliste L'Europe en formation, Andréas Papandréou, président du parti socialiste grec PASOK, dresse un tableau noir de l'agriculture et de l'économie grecques suite à l'adhésion du pays aux Communautés européennes et demande que le peuple hellénique puisse se prononcer dans un référendum sur cette adhésion.

On 5 December 1979, Jean François-Poncet, French Foreign Minister, emphasises to the National Assembly the historic and economic implications of Greece’s accession to the European Communities.

In 1980, George Contogeorgis, Greek Minister for European Affairs, emphasises the political and economic importance of Greece’s accession to the European Communities and gives a detailed analysis of the Treaty of Accession signed on 28 May 1979 in Athens.

On 13 April 1976 in a lecture given at the Academy of Athens, the Governor of the Bank of Greece, Xenophon Zolotas, examines the political and economic advantages of Greece joining the European Economic Community (EEC).

En août 1976, le gouverneur de la Banque de Grèce, Xenophon Zolotas, insiste sur les progrès réalisés par l'économie grecque afin de satisfaire aux conditions d'adhésion à la Communauté économqiue européenne (CEE).

In 1980, German cartoonist Hanel illustrates the question of Greece’s accession to the European Communities and emphasises the difficult economic and financial situation in the country.

Table showing the weakness of the Gross National Product of Greece in comparison to that of the Member States of the European Communities in 1977.

On 6 July 1977, as negotiations are held on Greece’s accession to the European Communities, British daily newspaper The Guardian analyses the situation of Greek agriculture.

During a speech at the Institute of Banking Studies on 2 June 1978, Xenophon Zolotas, Governor of the Bank of Greece, focuses on the positive contribution Greece would make as part of the European Community.

On 15 September 1978, the French daily newspaper Le Monde analyses the economic impact on the European Communities of Greece’s accession.

Table showing Greece's commercial dealings with the European Economic Community (EEC) from 1962 to 1978.

En octobre 1979, Francois-Xavier Ortoli, vice-président de la Commission des Communautés européennes, explique dans un discours les conditions dans lesquelles il faut placer la perspective de la participation de la Grèce au Système monétaire européen (SME).

Le 10 juillet 1980, le quotidien français Le Monde dresse un tableau de la marine marchande grecque à la veille de l'entrée de la Grèce aux Communautés européennes.

On 17 December 1980, the French daily newspaper Le Nouveau Journal outlines the problems which will arise for the Common Market when Greece accedes to it, particularly because of its economic situation.

Le 31 décembre 1980, à la veille de l'adhésion officielle de la Grèce aux Communautés européennes, le quotidien allemand Die Welt dresse un bilan mitigé de la situation économique grecque.

Table showing the size of the Greek merchant navy prior to Greek accession to the European Communities.

In his editorial of 10 April 1981, Emanuele Gazzo, Director of Agence Europe, calls for the implementation of a genuine common transport policy now that Greece has acceded to the European Communities.

On 3 January 1981, the day after the accession of Greece to the European Communities, French newspaper Le Monde highlights the advantages of Greek membership for France.

Poster produced by the European Commission to mark Greece’s accession to the European Communities on 1 January 1981.

Andreas Papandreou, Greek Prime Minister from 1981 to 1989 and again from 1993 to 1996, and founder of the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK).

Le 1er janvier 1981, le quotidien français Le Figaro annonce l'entrée officielle de la Grèce au sein des Communautés européennes et évoque les enjeux du nouvel élargissement de l'Europe communautaire.

On 1 January 1981, RTL’s Paris office announces the official accession of Greece to the European Communities. It is no longer the Europe of the Nine, it is now the Europe of the Ten.

In its December 1980 issue, the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) Bulletin analyses future relations between EFTA and Greece after that country joins the European Communities in January 1981.

On 20 December 1980, the Geman daily newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung is worried about the problems, especially financial and agricultural, arising from the accession of, firstly, Greece and, subsequently, of Spain and Portugal to the European Economic Community (EEC).

On 1 January 1981, the accession of Greece brings the number of Member States of the European Communities to ten.

In December 1980, Colette Flesch, Luxembourg Foreign Minister and President-in-Office of the Council of the European Communities, expresses her satisfaction at the accession of Greece to the Communities, as of 1 January 1981.

On 1 January 1981, commenting on Greek accession to the European Economic Community (EEC), the French daily newspaper Le Monde calls for a reform of the Community institutions and the way in which they operate.

On 1 January 1981, Roy Harris Jenkins, President of the outgoing European Commission, welcomes the accession of Greece to the European Communities.

On 1 January 1981, Lorenzo Natali, Vice-President of the European Commission and Commissioner for Enlargement, welcomes the accession that day of Greece to the European Communities.

On 1 January 1981, Roy Jenkins, outgoing President of the Commission of the European Communities, talks of the importance of Greek membership of the Communities.

On 1 January 1981, Gaston Thorn, President of the new Commission of the European Communities, welcomes the Greek membership of the Communities.

On 1 January 1981, Greece joins the European Communities. On this occasion, German Foreign Minister Hans-Dietrich Genscher considers the challenges of EC enlargement facing southern European countries.

In his editorial of 19–20 October 1981, Emanuele Gazzo, Director of Agence Europe, expresses concern at the consequences that the election victory of the Pasok and the accession to power of Andreas Papandreou might have for Greece’s European Community policy.

Le 31 janvier 1983, le journal français La Vie Française analyse la situation politique en Grèce où le socialiste Andréas Papandréou, mécontent de la situation économique dans laquelle se trouve le pays, se tourne contre le Marché commun.