26 March 1957 The Common Market



‘The Common Market is meant to be a step towards political unity. Behind the detailed clauses of the treaties is the familiar thought that Western Europe has got to unite if it is not to disintegrate.’

1 August 1961 Right decision: wrong route

‘Most Europeans – even President de Gaulle – want us to join the Common Market. They will be glad to see Britain as an equal partner in the new Western Europe. But they want us to come in wholeheartedly.’

French President Charles De Gaulle and British Prime Minister Harold MacMillan at the MacMillan home in Sussex, November 1961. Photograph: PNA Rota/Getty Images

16 January 1963 Dismay in Europe

‘If General de Gaulle’s rejection of a British partnership in the new Europe has depressed and angered those who have striven so hard to bring this partnership about, it seems to have caused an equal amount of depression and anger among his own European allies.’

28 November 1967 No doubt about the ‘no’

‘General de Gaulle said if Britain were to enter the European Community, the effect would be to break it up.’

29 October 1971 Britain into Europe

‘Britain needs Europe and Europe needs Britain. Mr Heath has taken the road that Mr Wilson took. It is the right road for Britain and it must be followed.’

1 January 1973 Into Europe, andante

‘The journey into Europe will be bumpy and discordant.’

The Guardian, 1 January 1973.

5 June 1975 A vote for the next century

‘Do we want to go into the twenty-first century as a small and separate nation or as part of a greater Western Europe?’

7 June 1975 A full-hearted decision

‘In terms of the existing electoral system, the result is unambiguous. Britain wants to remain in the Common Market.’

27 June 1984 Three years to get stuck in



‘The Government says that Britain’s inequitable budget payments to the EEC have been settled once and for all by the Fontainebleau summit.’

8 February 1992 Europe: the forgotten agenda

‘Beyond the [Maastricht] Treaty and enlargement lies the still broader role of the EC as a future superpower.’

1 January 2002 Euros by the billion

‘People may not be dancing in the streets today but the birth of the euro in notes and coins is a monumentally important event in the history of Europe.’

Portuguese celebrate the new European currency, 1 January, 2002. Photograph: Jose Manuel Ribeiro/REUTERS

13 December 2007 It is polite to turn up on time

‘The overwhelmingly important reason for Mr Brown to change his ways on Europe is that it is in Britain’s interests for Europe to become more effective in regional and world affairs.’

5 October 2009 Lisbon Treaty: painful birth

‘The EU is getting its act together, and the question once again is whether Britain wants to be part of it. The choice should be obvious.’

20 June 2016 The Guardian view on the EU referendum: keep connected and inclusive, not angry and isolated

‘Economics, foreign policy and Britain’s idea of itself are all on the ballot. But after a divisive campaign so, too, is our ability to get along. Another powerful reason why the wise vote is for remain.’

24 June 2016 The Guardian view on the EU referendum: the vote is in, now we must face the consequences

‘A prime minister is gone, but that is of nothing compared to the fallout for the economy, our union and Europe.’

The Guardian, 25 June 2016.

29 March 2018 The Guardian view on Brexit: now is the time to change course

‘Only a year is now left until the UK’s official moment of departure from the European Union on terms almost certainly decided by a rightwing clique of Tories.’

A polarised politics has prevented a civil and respectful debate about Brexit. Ireland shows deliberative democracy may help to break the deadlock

We urgently need innovative ways to resolve the referendum vote. Setting up a citizens’ assembly is the first step to break the impasse