european relations and EEC attempt

Question 1

when + what was the schumann plan?

Answer 1

-1950
-trade deal for coal and steel between france and germany
-first sign of post war cooperation
-showed that europe didn’t need British economic intervention

Question 2

what were ‘the six’ and the treaty of rome?

Answer 2

-1957
-launched the EEC
-the six = france, germany, italy, belgium, the netherlands and luxembourg
-at the time GB had no desire to join the EEC

Question 3

Britain’s initial response to EEC:

Answer 3

-many hostile conservative and labour MPs
-British priority was with the commonwealth and america
-EEC had detailed economic structures (such as the common agricultural policy) that GB couldn’t really conform to
-special exemptions for britain’s commonwealth trade partners would’ve been blocked by EEC rules

Question 4

what was the EFTA and when was it created?

Answer 4

-european free trade agreement
-GB led the formation of it
-intended as an alternative to the EEC

Question 5

Britain’s move towards Europe:

Answer 5

-poor domestic economic growth e.g. little industrial efficiency, balance of payments crisis meant Britain began to think that joining the EEC would stimulate rapid economic growth
-poor performance of EFTA - wasn’t able to match the economic prosperity of the EEC
-UK became increasingly isolated from america after the suez crisis

Question 6

details of EEC application:

Answer 6

-in 1961 macmillan’s gov. submitted an application
-main negotiatior = Heath
-january 1963 = negotiations seemed successful, but french president charles de gaulle vetoed and blocked britain’s application

Question 7

reasons for french veto 1963:

Answer 7

1. personal hostility of de gaulle
   -suspicious of Britain and america (‘les anglo-saxons)
   -lots of rows between him and churchill/roosevelt
   -he didn’t think britain would adapt to the way the EEc was run
   -didn’t like how GB wouldn’t give up its ‘special relationship’ with america
2. British ties to commonwealth and USA
   -britain wanted to balance its involvement in Europe with maintaining its ‘special relationship’ with america

Question 8

arguments for Britain becoming increasingly isolated from Europe 1951-1964:

Answer 8

• GB’s priority was with america and the commonwealth, not europe
  -britain was rejected from joining the EEC in1963 which further isolated it as they were not part of the ‘big six’
  -de gaulle was skeptical of britain
  -veto caused tensions between GB and France (who were a big european power) for a long time
  -schumann plan 1950 showed that europe didn’t need british economic intervention
  -suez crisis further isolated GB as most of europe began to question whether GB was still a world power

Question 9

arguments against Britain becoming increasingly isolated from Europe 1951-1964:

Answer 9

• GB’s creating of the EFTA showed that they still wanted to maintain strong trade links with europe
  -apart from france, all other EEC members were keen on britain joining the EEC
  -apart from france, all other EEC members wanted a good relationship with Britain, as its ties with the US were useful and important