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EU Timeline: 1970s
Significant events:
1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979
1970
1 January
Belgium takes over the presidency of the Council of the European Communities.
4 March
The Commission submits to the Council a plan for the establishment of economic and monetary union.
6 March
The Council forms two committees of experts: one chaired by Pierre Werner, looking into achieving economic and monetary union; a second chaired by Etienne Davignon, a Belgian statesman, studying political cooperation.
10 March
Mario Scelba is re-elected president of the European Parliament.
1 July
Germany takes over the presidency of the Council of the European Communities.
2 July
The new Commission, with Franco Maria Malfatti, Italian statesman, as its president takes office.Negotiations open in Luxembourg with the four prospective member states: Denmark, Ireland, Norway and the United Kingdom.
8 October
The Council issues its final report concerning economic and monetary union.
27 October
The member states approve the Davignon Report on political cooperation, seeking to harmonise foreign affairs on major issues.
1971
1 January
France takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Communities.
22 March
The Council adopts the Werner Plan to tie more closely economic policies, seeking to harmonise budgetary policies across the member states and to reduce the margins of fluctuation between their currencies.
30 June
The four applicant countries to the European Communities, Denmark, Ireland, Norway and the United Kingdom, outline their respective negotiating positions.
1 July
Italy takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Communities.
1972
1 January
Luxembourg takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Communities.
22 January
Denmark, Ireland, Norway and the United Kingdom sign the Treaties of accession to the European Communities.
14 March
Walter Behrendt is re-elected President of the European Parliament.
21 March
Franco Maria Malfatti, the president of the Commission, resigns and is replaced by Vice-President Sicco Mansholt, Dutch statesman.The Council adopts a resolution regarding the conditions for achieving the first stage of economic and monetary union.
24 April
The "currency snake" is established by which The Six limit the margin of fluctuation between their currencies to 2.25%.
10 May
A referendum is held in Ireland concerning joining the European Communities: the vast majority vote in favour of accession.
1 July
The Netherlands takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Communities.
12 September
The Ministers of Finance of The Six and of the four accession countries meet in Rome, agreeing to set up a European Monetary Cooperation Fund during the first stage of economic and monetary union.
25 April
A referendum is held in Norway concerning joining the European Communities: the majority vote against accession.
2 October
A referendum is held in Denmark concerning joining the European Communities: the majority vote in favour of accession.
9 October
Following the referendum vote against accession, the Norwegian Government declines to bring the Accession Ratification Bill before Parliament.
16 October
The United Kingdom Parliament ratifies the acts relating to the accession to the European Communities.
19 to 21 October
A summit meeting in Paris reaffirms 1980 as the deadline for economic and monetary union.
1973
1 January
Belgium takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Communities.Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom join the European Communities.
6 January
François Xavier Ortoli, French statesman, takes office as President of the European Commission.
13 March
Cornelis Berkhouwer, Dutch statesman, is elected President of the European Parliament.
1 June
The Association Agreement and the additional protocol between the Community and Cyprus comes into force.
1 July
Denmark takes over the presidency of the Council of the European Communities.
1974
1 January
Germany takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Communities.
1 April
Following the election of a new government in the United Kingdom, the UK foreign secretary makes known his government's policy on the Community, calling for major changes to the CAP, "fairer methods of financing the Community budget" and solutions to monetary problems.
4 June
The Council considers how it will examine the issues raised by the United Kingdom.
1 July
France takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Communities.
9 to 10 December
A summit meeting in Paris endorses direct elections to the European Parliament, resolves to establish economic and monetary union, and requests that the Belgian prime minister, Leo Tindemans, prepare a summary report on the European Union by the end of 1975.
19 December
The term of office of François-Xavier Ortoli, president of the Commission, is extended to 5 January 1977.
1975
1 January
Ireland takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Communities.
10 to 11 March
The European Council meeting in Dublin agrees that the United Kingdom government can recommend in a referendum continued membership of the European Communities.
11 March
Georges Spénale, French statesman, is elected President of the European Parliament.
18 March
Harold Wilson, the British Prime Minister, states in the House of Commons that his government will recommend a "yes" vote in the referendum on the United Kingdom's continued membership of the European Communities.
27 March
The British Government publishes a White Paper on the outcome of renegotiations.
9 April
In the British House of Commons, 369 MPs vote in favour of the United Kingdom staying in the European Communities with 170 voting against.
5 June
The result of the British referendum is a 67.2% vote in favour of the United Kingdom remaining a member of the European Communities.
12 June
Greece formally applies to join the European Communities.
1 July
Italy takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Communities.
16 to 17 July
A European Council in Brussels requests a report concerning election to the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage.
1 to 2 December
A European Council meeting in Rome agrees to election to the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage, and to passport union.[Back to top]
1976
1 January
Luxembourg takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Communities.
7 January
Leo Tindemans publishes his summary report on the European Union.
9 February
The Council is in favour of Greece's application for Community membership.
1 to 2 April
A European Council meeting in Luxembourg discusses the Tindemans Report on the European Union.
1 July
The Netherlands take over the Presidency of the Council of the European Communities.
12 to 13 July
A European Council meeting in Brussels agrees on the number and distribution of seats in the European Parliament (that is to be elected by universal suffrage in 1979). Roy Jenkins, British statesman, is designated president of the Commission.
27 July
Negotiations for the accession of Greece to the Community open.
20 September
The instruments concerning the election of the European Parliament by universal suffrage are signed.
29 to 30 November
A European Council meeting in The Hague publishes a statement concerning the construction of the European Union.
13 December
Governments of the member states appoint members of the new Commission for the period 6 January 1977 to 5 January 1981.
1977
1 January
The United Kingdom takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Communities.
6 January
The new Commission, appointed in December 1976 with Roy Jenkins as its President, takes office.
28 March
Portugal formally applies to join the European Communities.
17 May
The sixth VAT Directive establishing uniform rates of value added tax is adopted by the Council.
1 July
Belgium takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Communities.Extension of Common Customs Tariff to the new member states: Denmark, Ireland, and the United Kingdom.
28 July
Spain formally applies to join the European Communities.
1978
1 January
Denmark takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Communities.
9 March
Simmenthal ruling: the European Court of Justice consolidates the principle of pre-eminence of Community law.
7 to 8 April
A European Council meeting in Copenhagen agrees to the first direct elections to the European Parliament.
19 May
The Commission looks favourably upon Portugal's membership application to the European Communities.
6 June
The Council decides in favour of Portugal's membership application and opens negotiations.
1 July
Germany takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Communities.
6 to 7 July
A European Council meeting in Bremen agrees on a proposal to set up a European Monetary System (EMS).
25 July
The Council sets the 7 to the 10 June 1979 as the dates on which the first direct elections to the European Parliament are to be held.
9 October
Governments of the Member States meeting within the Council sign the Convention on the Accession of Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom.
29 November
The Commission decides in favour of Spain's membership application to the European Communities.
4 to 5 December
A European Council meeting in Brussels establishes the European Monetary System (EMS) based on a European Currency Unit (the ECU).
19 December
Governments of the member states renew the terms of office of Roy Jenkins as President of the Commission, from 6 January 1979 to 5 January 1981.
