1957–1975

The Common Market and the European Union

The 1970s also brought a big change in Britain's place in Europe. In 1957 six countries set up the European Economic Community (EEC): France, West Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. People often called it the "Common Market", because its members could trade with each other freely. When the European Union (EU) was created in 1993, the EEC became part of it. The UK was a full member of the EU, but it never replaced the pound with the euro: it did not use the euro. Then, on 31 January 2020, it formally left; for how that happened, see 2010 to 2020: a coalition, a referendum and Brexit.

Getting in had not been easy. The UK first asked to join in the 1960s, but the French president, Charles de Gaulle, said no twice, in 1963 and 1967. Only after he left office in 1969 could the UK get in, in 1973. In 1975 the UK held a referendum, and about two-thirds voted to stay.

Era contents: 1950 – 2000