BRITAIN AND EUROPE: AN UNEASY RELATIONSHIP

1951 - Great Britain refused to sign the Treaty of Paris, which established the European Coal and Steel Community

1957 - The Treaty of Rome was signed by 6 European states

1960 - UK wants to be the part of the organisation but the idea was opposed by Charles de Gaulle who said "England is an island, maritime, and linked through its trade, markets and food supplies to very diverse and often distant countries. In short, the nature and structure and economic context of England differ profoundly from those of the other states of Europe."

1967 -The European Community was established

1973 - Great Britain joined European Economic Community (EEC)

1975 - Labour Prime Minister Harold Wilson had a referendum on Britain's membership - the last national referendum the country had until 2011 when there was a referendum on the electoral system. 66% voted yes to stay in the European Community

1980s - Margaret Thatcher claimed an out-and-out policy against any advancement in European integration, striving to reduce the British contribution to the EEC budget - with a certain success.

1987 -The Single European Act was signed. This was to create an internal market; "an area without frontiers in which the free movement of goods and persons, services and capital is ensured."

1991 -The Maastrict Treaty was signed. The heart of this was to create a single European currency so that Europe as an entity had a currency to challenge the international supremacy of the dollar. Britain, lead by Tory Prime Minister John Major, pushed for and got an "opt out" clause for Britain. This meant that we were part of the European Community and wanted to be a part of it, but not to participate in a single currency, therefore, maintaining the pound should we decide to do so.

1993 - The European Union was formed

1999 - 2002 - establishment of a European Central Bank (ECB) and single currency;

Great Britain remained out of the Euro zone

2007 - Gordon Brown finally signs the Lisbon Treaty 3 hours after the other Prime Ministers despite opposition within Britain - there are “opt-out” clauses in various sections. A referendum had been promised by Tony Blair but never took place.

2011 - Veto in Brussels - David Cameron votes against the fiscal pact but the remaining 27 countries will continue without Britain. The reasoning - Britain must protect the City of London and avoid financial regulation, yet at the same time Britain wants to be involved in key decisions.

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