TIMELINE: BRITAIN AND EUROPE
1945: Former prime minister Winston Churchill proposes “a kind of United States of Europe”
1957: The UK decides not to sign the Treaty of Rome, which led to the founding of the EEC (European Economic Community) on 1 January 1958
1963: Britain applies to join the EEC. France vetoes Britain’s entry
1967: Britain applies again to join the EEC. France again vetoes Britain’s entry 1973: Under Conservative prime minister Edward Heath, Britain finally joins the EEC
1973: Labour prime minister Harold Wilson holds a referendum on Britain’s membership of the EEC. Two thirds of the British vote to stay in
1990: Arguments about Britain’s policy towards the rest of Europe contribute to the resignation of Margaret Thatcher as prime minister
1992: Black Wednesday: Britain is forced to leave the European Exchange
Rate Mechanism. The pound falls dramatically
1995: Britain does not take part in the Schengen Agreement but keeps its own border controls
1999: The European single currency (“euro”) is launched. Britain does not take part 2004: Ten new states join the EU. Unlike Germany, Britain agrees to the freedom of the new EU citizens to live and work in the UK
2016: In a referendum on 23 June, called by Conservative prime minister David Cameron, Britain votes by 52 to 48 per cent to leave the EU
2017: On 29 March, the British government under Conservative prime minister Theresa May triggers the two-year “Article 50” process for leaving the EU. Midnight on 29 March 2019 is set as the moment Britain will leave the EU 2018: In July, the British parliament passes the “European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018”. Parliament is given the final say over the negotiated agreement with the EU
2019: On 15 January, by a majority of 230 votes, the British parliament rejects the withdrawal deal that prime minister Theresa May has negotiated with the EU EEC Community) , EWG (European [)i: Economic i: (si:] exchange [Iks(tseindz rate mechanism reit )mekenizem] , Wechselkursmechanism us final say: be given the ~ [)fain&l (sei] , das letzte Wort haben founding [(faundin] , Gründung resignation [)rezig(neis&n] , Rücktritt single currency [)sing&l (kvrensi] , Einheits-, Gemeinschaftswährung trigger sth. [(trige] , etw. auslösen withdrawal [wid(dro:el] , hier: Austritt