Am Anfang der 70er Jahren, während in Brüssel die Beitrittsverhandlungen des Vereinigten Königreichs in die Europäischen Gemeinschaften stattfinden, äußeren britische Demonstranten ihre Opposition zum gemeinsamen Markt und fordern die Abhaltung einer Volksabstimmung.

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.

Am 12. Juli 1971 untersucht das deutsche Nachrichtenmagazin Der Spiegel den Werbefeldzug des britischen Premierministers Edward Heath, der die Briten vom Beitritt zum Gemeinsamen Markt überzeugen soll.

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.

In einer am 28. Oktober 1971 gehaltenen Rede zeigt sich Walter Scheel, Bundesminister des Auswärtigen, zufrieden über die positive Abstimmung des britischen Unterhauses über den Beitritt Englands zur Europäischen Gemeinschaft.

Am 28. Oktober 1971 stimmt das britische Unterhaus für den Beitritt des Vereinigten Königreichs zur Europäischen Wirtschaftsgemeinschaft (EWG). Einige Stunden vor der Abstimmung zeigt diese RTL-Reportage noch, dass der Ausgang nicht sicher ist.

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 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.

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.

Am 1. Januar 1973 treten Dänemark, das Vereinigte Königreich und Irland den Europäischen Gemeinschaften bei, die somit neun Mitglieder zählen.

On 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.

Am 21. Januar 1972 verleiht der Kommissionspräsident der Europäischen Wirtschaftsgemeinschaft Franco Maria Malfatti seiner Befriedigung über die Unterzeichnung des Beitrittsvertrags durch Dänemark, das Vereinigte Königreich, Irland und Norwegen Ausdruck, die am nächsten Tag stattfinden soll.

Treaty 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.

Am 22. Januar 1972 hält der Präsident der Europäischen Kommission Franco Maria Malfatti anlässlich der feierlichen Unterzeichnung der Beitrittsverträge Dänemarks, Irlands, Norwegens und des Vereinigten Königreiches zu den Europäischen Gemeinschaften im Palais d'Egmont in Brüssel eine Rede, in der er den Beitritt dieser vier Länder zu den Gemeinschaften begrüßt.

Anlässlich der feierlichen Unterzeichnung der Beitrittsverträge vier neuer Mitgliedstaaten (Dänemark, Irland, Norwegen und Vereinigtes Königreich) zu den Europäischen Gemeinschaften am 22. Januar 1972 in Brüssel hält Gaston Thorn, amtierender Vorsitzender des Rates der Europäischen Gemeinschaften, eine Rede, in der er die Bedeutung des europäischen Integrationsprozesses unterstreicht.

Unterzeichnung der Beitrittsverträge Dänemarks, Irlands, des Vereinigten Königreichs und Norwegens: Rede von Gaston Eyskens (Brüssel, 22. Januar 1972)s (Bruxelles, 22 janvier 1972)

Am 22. Januar 1972 unterzeichnet der britische Premierminister Edward Heath in Brüssel den Beitrittsvertrag des Vereinigten Königreichs zu den Europäischen Gemeinschaften; die Unterzeichnung verzögert sich um eine Stunde, da eine Gegnerin des Beitritts den Premierminister bei seiner Ankunft im Palais d’Egmont mit Tinte bespritzt hatte.

Am 22. Januar 1972 unterzeichnet der britische Premierminister Edward Heath im Palais d’Egmont in Brüssel den Beitrittsvertrag des Vereinigten Königreichs zu den Europäischen Gemeinschaften. Die Zeremonie verzögert sich jedoch um eine Stunde, da eine britische Gegnerin des Beitritts den britischen Premierminister mit Tinte bespritzt hatte.

Am 22. Januar 1972 hält der Premierminister Belgiens Gaston Eyskens anlässlich der feierlichen Unterzeichnung der Beitrittsverträge Dänemarks, Irlands, Norwegens und des Vereinigten Königreiches zu den Europäischen Gemeinschaften im Palais d'Egmont in Brüssel eine Rede, in der er den Beitritt dieser vier Länder zu den Gemeinschaften begrüßt.

On 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.

On 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.

On 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.

On 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.

Anlässlich der Unterzeichnung des Beitrittsvertrags des Vereinigten Königreichs zu den Europäischen Gemeinschaften am 22. Januar 1972 in Brüssel verleiht Jean Monnet, Präsident des Aktionskomitee für die Vereinigten Staaten von Europa, seiner Freude über die Erweiterung der Gemeinschaften Ausdruck, für die er sich beständig eingesetzt hat, und beschreibt die Chancen und Herausforderungen für das erweiterte Europa.

Am 22. Januar 1972 unterzeichnen die Vertreter Dänemarks, Irlands, Norwegens und des Vereinigten Königreichs nach neunzehn Monaten zäher diplomatischer Verhandlungen im Palais d'Egmont in Brüssel die Verträge über den Beitritt zu den Europäischen Gemeinschaften.

As 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).

On 1 January 1973, a section of the British press enthusiastically announces the United Kingdom's entry into the European common market.

On 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.

On 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.

On 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.

On 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.

In 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.

In einem Artikel vom 22. Januar 1972 kommentiert die französische Tageszeitung Le Monde die offizielle Unterzeichnung der Beitrittsurkunden der vier Kandidaten (Dänemark, Irland, Norwegen und Vereinigtes Königreich) zu den Europäischen Gemeinschaften und legt die Herausforderungen für ein neues Europa mit zehn Mitglieder dar.

On 24 January 1972, commenting on the signing of the new Treaties of Accession, the Belgian daily newspaper La Libre Belgique speculates on the United Kingdom’s European policy.

On 24 January 1972, the French daily newspaper Le Figaro comments on the United Kingdom’s accession to the European Communities and speculates on the historic nature of the event.

On 24 January 1972, the French communist daily newspaper L’Humanité criticises the recent enlargement of Europe and describes what it sees as bloc politics.

In its April 1972 issue, the federalist journal L’Europe en formation presents the point of view of Richard Mayne, Director of the Federal Trust for Education and Research in London, on trends in British opinion towards the United Kingdom’s accession to the European Communities.

In April 1972, three months after the signing of the United Kingdom’s Treaty of Accession to the European Communities, Roberto Gaja, Secretary-General of the Italian Foreign Ministry, writing under the pseudonym of Roberto Guidi, analyses the consequences of the first enlargement, with particular regard to Italy’s foreign policy.

On 2 January 1973, Italian daily newspaper Corriere della Sera comments on the United Kingdom's accession to the European Communities and analyses British foreign policy.

In July 1973, Stuart Holland, a former adviser to Labour Prime Minister Harold Wilson on economic and political affairs, describes the European policy of the British Labour Party in an article for the French monthly newspaper Le Monde diplomatique.

In this interview, Edmund Wellenstein, European Commission Director-General for External Relations between 1973 and 1976, describes the impact of the arrival of officials from the new Member States, particularly from the United Kingdom, on the work and general atmosphere at the Commission.