1 янв 1963 г. - Britain was vetoed from the EEC

Описание:

Macmillan's economic struggles led him and his cabinet towards applying Britain for entering the EEC.

Inflation was rising but the EEC has proven to be able to stimulate economic growth. Additionally, joining the EEC would increase industrial production.

Britain also now had the support of the US to join. Eisenhower and Kennedy expressed desire for Britain to join, particularly to have influence over Europe.

Britain applied for the EEC in 1961.

Charles de Gaulle, the French President, vetoed the application. He seemed sceptical of Britain's ties with America and Britain's unwillingness to remove themselves to the Commonwealth trade.

De Gaulle's public explanation shows Britain's preferred trading occurs between the Commonwealth and the USA:
"(England's) bound by her trade, her markets, her supplies, to countries that are very diverse and often very far away...How can England, as she lives, as she produces, as she trades, be incoroporated in the Common Market?"