Großbritannien und de Gaulle: Das Scheitern des britischen EWG-Beitritts im Januar 1963

In: Vierteljahrshefte für Zeitgeschichte, Volume 44, Issue 1, p. 87-118

Abstract

In August 1961 Great Britain applied for membership to the European Economic Community. Negotiations started in October 1961 and in December 1962, a final meeting was scheduled for January 28, 1963. At a now famous press "conference de choc" on January 14, 1963, President Charles de Gaulle said "Non" to British entry into the Common Market. It is generally taken for granted that this press conference was the end of Britain's application to the E. E. C. A careful examination of British records allows us to reevaluate this assumption. The paper shows that Britain's objective was to try to maintain negotiations and to invite the five E. E. C. members in favour of British membership, whereby the German government's attitude would be of "critical importance". After two dramatic weeks, the outcome was that the Five did not have the strenght to resist the political pressure the French government brought to bear upon them. On January 29, 1963 the negotiations finally broke down. (Vierteljahrshefte für Zeitgeschichte / FUB)