Frequently Asked Questions
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- When did the UK join the EU?
Denmark, Ireland and Britain joined the EEC in 1973, after Charles de Gaulle's resignation in 1969. Under the Labour Prime Minister, Harold Wilson, there was a UK referendum on continued membership of the EEC in 1975. The electorate voted 'Yes' by 67.2% to 32.8% to stay in Europe.
The Conservative Prime Minister, Edward Heath, took the UK into the EEC in January 1973 after President de Gaulle of France had blocked UK membership twice in the 1960s. This brought EEC membership to nine. In a referendum in 1975 the UK electorate voted to stay in the EEC under renegotiated terms of entry.
The first major Treaty change was the Single European Act, which created an internal market with voting by qualified majority (QMV) rather than unanimity. The Single Market was established at the end of 1992. It allowed over 280 pieces of legislation to be passed, paving the way for common EU laws based on the principle of mutual recognition among Member States.
Britain and the EEC
In 1961 Britain applied for membership of the EEC. This was vetoed by French President Charles de Gaulle, who was concerned that British membership would weaken the French voice within Europe. He also feared that close Anglo-American relations would lead to the United States increasing its influence in Europe. Charles de Gaulle also vetoed a second application from Britain in1969.
- When the EU start in its present form?
1 November 1993, Maastricht, Netherlands
- When did the Common Market start?
25 March 1957
- When did the EU come into existence?
The Maastricht Treaty and the European Union. On Feb. 7, 1992, European integration moved another step further when the Treaty on European Union, known as the Maastricht Treaty, was signed. This came into force on Nov. 1, 1993, and changed the EEC into the newly named European Union.
- Why did we join the EU in 1973?
Membership came only in the early 1970s. This column argues that, among others, Britain joined the EU as a way to avoid its economic decline. The UK's per capita GDP relative to the EU founding members' declined steadily from 1945 to 1972. However, it was relatively stable between 1973 and 2010.
- How many voted to leave the EU in 2016?
On 23 June 2016, the recorded result was that UK voters favoured leaving the European Union by 51.9% for Leave to 48.1% for Remain.
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Results of the 2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum.Votes%
Leave17,410,74251.89%
Remain16,141,24148.11%
Valid votes33,551,98399.92%
