France’s Second Veto on the United Kingdom’s Accession to the European Communities

With the accession negotiations for candidate countries (Denmark, United Kingdom, Norway, Ireland) not yet begun, on November 27, 1967, General de Gaulle, in a press conference citing Britain’s economic incompatibility with community rules, announced the exercise of a veto regarding the United Kingdom’s accession to the European Communities, while proposing the creation of a trade association with the candidate countries. The veto was officially exercised on December 19, 1967.
In Paris, there was a prevailing belief that with the United Kingdom as a member of the Common Market, even with the acceptance of the Treaty terms, it would lead to a transformation of the Community and result in the creation of a single free trade zone. In general, President de Gaulle considered that his country, in an enlarged community, would be called upon to overcome more obstacles in supporting its economic interests. Beyond this, France and Britain had differences in foreign and defense policy matters. The French President was concerned about France losing its leadership position with the accession of new member states at a time when British Prime Minister Harold Wilson supported US participation in Europe’s defense and was against the prospect of creating a European nuclear force.
However, the other member states were trying to find a compromise solution in order to continue accession negotiations with the candidate countries. Eventually, this became possible towards the end of April 1969 and after, when Charles de Gaulle’s term as President of the French Republic ended.
This was the second veto exercised by President de Gaulle regarding the United Kingdom’s accession process to the European Communities. He announced the first one at a press conference on January 14, 1963, citing, as in 1967, incompatibilities of economic interests. Thus, on January 28, 1963, the accession negotiations were suspended.
President de Gaulle was concerned that the Common Agricultural Policy would be tested and that there was a risk of the EEC turning into a free trade zone. In terms of foreign and defense policy, he believed that the United Kingdom’s entry into the Communities would create a risk of US involvement in European affairs while also fearing US-British nuclear cooperation.