Official Start of Accession Negotiations between the United Kingdom and the EEC

The official accession negotiations between the United Kingdom and the EEC took place in Brussels on November 8, 1961. For Henri Fayat, Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs, “it is a historic day”. Edward Heath, responsible for the UK’s accession negotiations to the European Community, spoke about the good state of the negotiations, and the Dutch representative emphasized the positive role played by Benelux. The aim is to allow a significant period of time for the adaptation of British agriculture, in order to avoid conflicts that would be caused by the transition of the British agricultural system to the Community system. Edward Heath also asks for the protection of Commonwealth interests and the interests of non-candidate EFTA members.