On 31 March 1965, the Commission of the European Economic Community presents three proposals to the Council, one of which involves gradually replacing the financial contributions of the Member States by own resources.

Le 3 avril 1965, Fernand Dehousse, sénateur socialiste belge et membre du Parlement européen, plaide dans le quotidien Le monde du travail, publié par la Fédération provinciale liégeoise du parti socialiste belge (PSB), en faveur d'une Europe politique, d'une Europe sociale et d'un accroissement des pouvoirs de l'Assemblée afin, notamment, de pouvoir contrôler les dépenses liées à la Politique agricole commune (PAC).

On 12 May 1965, the European Parliament adopts a resolution on proposals from the European Commission relating to financing the common agricultural policy (CAP) and to the creation of own resources for the EEC.

On 13 July 1965, the Economic Cooperation Service of the French Foreign Ministry drafts a note which sets out the deadlock situation facing the Community following the failure of the negotiations on the financial regulation of the common agricultural policy (CAP) which led to the empty chair crisis.

On 20 October 1965, Walter Hallstein, President of the Commission of the European Economic Community (EEC), explains to the European Parliament the origins of the crisis affecting the Community, and describes the Commission's action.

The Netherlands, represented by its Foreign Minister, Joseph Luns, is France's main opponent during debates on the means of financing the common agricultural policy (CAP).

On 24 July 1966, Walter Hallstein, President of the European Commission, delivers a speech in which he reviews the outcomes of the agricultural marathon of 11 May 1966, and comments on the decision adopted by the Council of Ministers during the night of 23 to 24 July.

Dans ses Mémoires, Robert Marjolin, vice-président de la Commission de la Communauté économique européenne (CEE) de 1962 à 1967, explique les raisons de son opposition aux idées soutenues par certains commissaires et contenues dans la proposition présentée au Parlement européen le 24 mars 1965. Cette proposition prévoit, principalement, la mise en place du Marché commun agricole, la mise en place progressive d’un système de ressources propres mais aussi une modification radicale de l’équilibre des pouvoirs des institutions en matière budgétaire.

In his memoirs, the former Luxembourg Prime Minister Pierre Werner recalls the crises which occurred throughout 1965 on the financing and implementation of the common agricultural policy (CAP).

On 5 July 1965, the Italian daily newspaper Corriere della Sera reviews the course of Community negotiations on the financing of the common agricultural policy (CAP) and outlines the reasons for their failure.

On 22 July 1965, the Netherlands daily newspaper Nieuwe Rotterdamse Courant describes the concern of the European Parliament and of Walter Hallstein, President of the Commission of the European Economic Community (EEC), at the difficulties in resolving the crisis concerning the means of financing the common agricultural policy (CAP).

In 1965, the Lëtzeburger Bauere-Kalenner, periodical for the Luxembourg Farmers’ Association, would welcome the implementation of a common agricultural policy in Europe.

On 10 May 1966, the German daily newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung examines the lengthy negotiations on financing the common agricultural policy (CAP) within the European Economic Community (EEC).

On 3 July 1968, reacting to the problems involved in funding the common agricultural policy (CAP), the French National Federation of Farmers’ Unions (FNSEA) is worried about the difficult situation in which French agriculture currently finds itself.

On 22 December 1969, commenting on the meeting in Brussels of the Agriculture, Finance and Foreign Ministers of the Six, the French daily newspaper Le Monde gives an initial assessment of the difficult negotiations on financing the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

‘I see, Pisani, you’re going to talk to me about the Chicken War again! …’ On 10 August 1963, French cartoonist Lap paints an ironic picture of the Chicken War between the United States and the Member States of the European Economic Community, particularly France. In response to tariffs imposed by the EEC, particularly by France and West Germany, on US poultry imports, the US Government introduced a ‘chicken tax’, a 25 % customs duty on imports of some European products (spirits, lorries, dextrin and potato starch). General de Gaulle (on the left) is becoming increasingly impatient over the negotiations conducted by his Agriculture Minister, Edgar Pisani, to resolve the conflict.

'Instructions for Brussels: I am Maurice Couve de Murville, I am not a nobody!' On 30 June 1965, Maurice Couve de Murville, French Foreign Minister and President-in-Office of the Council of Ministers, makes clear his opposition to the Commission proposals for financing the CAP by resigning from his seat in the Council.

On 9 July 1965, the German daily newspaper Die Zeit puts forward several possible interpretations of General de Gaulle's policy, which sidelines France vis-à-vis its partners in the European common market.

On 14 July 1965, the French daily newspaper Le Monde criticises General de Gaulle’s decision to boycott intergovernmental meetings of Community bodies in Brussels, thereby provoking the empty chair crisis.