The UK's EU entry and the scandal of what we now know - The UK's Great Escape Pt 3

How the EU has seized power by patience and stealth

Montage Facts4EU.Org 2023

Facts4EU.Org summarises how independent states have been sucked into the EU vortex

A Brexit Facts4EU.Org Series

Part One – The EU’s acquisition of countries and land
Part Two - The EU's growth in people and GDP
Part Three – 1957-1992, UK's entry into EEC, the scandal of what we now know from officialdom (This report)
Part Four - 1993-2023, Great UK Escape - EU's power grabs after Maastricht, UK's triumphant Brexit

In Part One of this four-part series we focused on the enormous increase in the EU's orbit in terms of countries and territory. In Part Two we looked at the growth in the population the EU empire controls and the economies it has absorbed, as well as the GDP it has acquired along the way. In the 50 years since its first enlargement (when the EU was called the European Economic Community or EEC) we showed that:

The number of EU countries is now 4.5 times greater
The amount of EU territory is now 3.5 times greater
The population is 2.7 times greater
The combined GDP is now approximately 5 times higher
And how the EU’s territorial and other controls are set to grow still further

The steady march of the powers of the EU Empire

In this, Part Three, Facts4EU.Org looks at the EU’s acquisition of political and other powers.

As a reminder, the United Kingdom joined the EU – then the ‘European Economic Community’ (EEC or Common Market) - on 01 Jan 1973. The Republic of Ireland and Denmark joined at the same time. In the RoI’s case, and to an extent in Denmark’s case, it had little choice as its economy was so closely tied to that of the UK. A Referendum in the UK was not held until two years after it joined.

In our potted history below we will often simply refer to ‘the EU’, regardless of what it called itself at the time.

1957-1973 – Brussels starts stretching its claws

From its first inception in 1957, Brussels started to stretch its claws. From being a trading bloc it took on new powers, starting with legislating on environmental controls.

From March 1958 the EU had the ‘European Parliamentary Assembly’, which became the ‘European Parliament’ on 30 March 1962. Until July 1978 the Parliament was filled by appointed delegates but an Act then came into force and MEPs started to be elected by popular mandate the following year. Then – as now – this Parliament had no powers to introduce new laws. These powers were – and still are – held by the EU Commission which is not elected by the people.

1970 – The illegal seizure of fishing rights

In 1970, on the UK’s application to join, the EU hastily made a new law that all fishing rights of member states would be shared. The reason was simple: the richest waters in Europe were those around the UK. By rushing through a new law the EU guaranteed that the UK would cede its waters on the day it joined. There was no legal justification in the Treaty for this power grab but the EU went ahead and did it anyway.

1973 – The UK’s accession to the ‘Common Market’

"There are some in this country who fear that in going into Europe we shall in some way sacrifice independence and sovereignty. These fears, I need hardly say, are completely unjustified."
- Prime Minister Ted Heath, TV broadcast to the nation, on Britain's entry into the Common Market, Jan 1973

We now know from official papers which were released under the 30-year rule that for years Ted Heath lied to Parliament and to the British people. He knew full well that the Act of Accession would automatically cede independence and sovereignty to Brussels.

Even back in 1973, the mere act of joining the ‘Common Market’ meant signing up to an ever closer union. Heath was told in writing by his civil servants that accession would involve “a process of fundamental political importance, implying progressive development towards a political union”. The Civil Service also made clear that the long-term objectives of the forerunner of the EU went “well beyond the full establishment of a Common Market”.

Reviewing the EU’s plans at that time, the Civil Service and in particular the Foreign and Commonwealth Office advised Heath that these would lead to:

“The ultimate creation of a European federal state, with a single currency. All the basic instruments of national economic management (fiscal, monetary, incomes and regional policies) would ultimately be handed over to the central federal authorities.”
- Source: Public Records Office/FCO 30/789

The reaction of both the pro-EEC/EU Civil Service and the Government was that they felt it would probably be best to keep these facts secret from the British public. This is very well documented in the official papers and cannot be disputed.

1987 – The Single European Act

At the risk of stating the obvious, the clue was in the name. It led to a name change a few years later to “the European Community”, with the ‘economic’ part of the title being dropped. This Act was transformational in many ways and it made the direction of travel even clearer:

“establishing the European Communities and to transform relations as a whole among their States into a European Union”
- Single European Act 1987

Symbolically – and very importantly - this Act introduced an EU flag and a (German-composed) EU anthem for the first time. On the road to becoming a single superstate, absorbing powers and identity from its member countries, this was a very significant milestone for Brussels.

Montage: Brexit Facts4EU.Org 2023

This Act also introduced the principle of Qualified Majority Voting (QMV) in certain areas of policy. Another way of putting this is that it removed the automatic right of veto by member countries. In subsequent decades the use of QMV has been extended to more areas of policy, which of course was always envisaged in Brussels.

Coming in the Final Part : The Great UK Escape - The EU's power grabs after Maastricht, 1993-2023, and the UK's triumphant Brexit

Observations

The deliberate deception of the British people by the government of Ted Heath was a shameful episode in British history.

There is no question about this, following the release of official government papers under the 30-year rule. Now we know the extent of the deception. The government and Civil Service knew all along that joining the EEC meant the UK would no longer be a sovereign country - but they cynically hid this fact from the people, and government ministers including Prime Minister Heath blatantly lied about it.

Facts4EU.Org and you

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[ Sources: EU Commission | EU Parliament | Public Records Office | Bruges Group ] Politicians and journalists can contact us for details, as ever.

Brexit Facts4EU.Org, Tues 22 Aug 2023

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Reader Comments 21

1. LuxuryBalloon , Wednesday, August 23, 2023, 06:00:

Even though we occupied a swathe of German territory with 20,000 troops until 2011 … the Germans managed an effective counter-offensive to force us to become part of their EU empire.

2. terence patrick hewett , Wednesday, August 23, 2023, 06:03:

Insane site security now in place.

3. Sparky , Wednesday, August 23, 2023, 06:06:

looks like Facts4EU and readers still trying to convince themselves that the UK made the right decision to leave the EU. A few additions and corrections are needed to this piece.
.
The UK joined the EU because it was an economic basket case in the 1970's suffering from high inflation, high interest rates, high unemployment, industrial unrest and losing ground economically within Europe. BJ and NF managed to convince the electorate that the EU was the source of all our woes and Brexit would solve them all, it hasn't and why there is so much Bregret.
.
When Beethoven was alive, Germany as a country did not exist, when he passed away in 1827 the area of Bonn where he was born was part of the Kingdom of Hanover, our George III was King of Hanover.
.
Our friends on the other side of the world, Australia's ruling Labor party has passed a motion supporting Irish reunification.

4. Gazzablack , Wednesday, August 23, 2023, 06:09:

3, sparkless
.
Your corrections need correcting
Unemployment when the UK joined the EU was around 4%, it rose alarmingly after we joined.
Likewise, inflation rose to 20+% long after we joined.
.
George III never visited Hanover, and having succumbed to dementia he probably wasn't even aware that he's been gifted a new kingdom.
The personal union with the United Kingdom ended in 1837 upon the accession of Queen Victoria
.
The German confederation was created in 1815, Hanover being a member.
Hanover was then annexed by Prussia in 1866.
.
Australia's position on a United Ireland is irrelevant.

5. David Hurlbut , Wednesday, August 23, 2023, 06:13:

Reply to Sparky:-
The economic case of whether to join the EEC/leave the EU was always the SECONDARY issue.
The PRIMARY issue was the sly, slow but steady move towards creating a United States of Europe.
The "Action Committee for a United States of Europe" (often referred to as the Monnet Committee) was formed in 1955.
Right from the EEC's beginnings, the ultimate aim has been to create a European superpower to rival the USA and USSR.
It is this aim of creating a federal United States of Europe in which the individual European countries are turned
into provinces which is the overwhelmingly most important, PRIMARY issue.
My view is that referenda should be held in every EU member state to ask their populations if they are happy to give up
their independent political status and become provinces of a federal United States of Europe.
I suspect that if such referenda were carried out, the populations of all the EU countries would reject federalism.

6. NH , Wednesday, August 23, 2023, 06:15:

3. Sparky. , "Why The UK joined the EU"
The UK was struggling economy in the 70's but this was a result of several events. In the 60's the Labour Government increased tax rates up to 95% which lead to an exodus of talent and a complete lack of private investment. External events lead to the oil price being massively increased which resulted in high levels of inflation. The Labour party had nationalised most large industries which resulted in Unions having huge striking power. This lead to long drawn out strikes resulting in a 3 day week which crippled the economy.
.
Joining the EEC did not solve these problems. In 1976, 3 years after joining the EEC, the UK was technically bankrupt. What eventually changed the UK's fortunes was the Thatcher Reforms. She massively reduced regulation and eventually simplified and greatly reduced tax rates. She also demanded an annual rebate from the EU and they gave in to her. The result was huge investment and economic growth. Unfortunately when Thatcher was replaced by a series of weak Europhile Prime Ministers this allowed the EU to cripple the UK's strong economic position by removing the Thatcher Reforms with never ending regulations.
.
This reason many people voted to leave the EU is we wanted to be a democratic self governing state exactly like 80% of the world economy. Over time this will allow us to meet the challenges of the present global economy and not to be restricted by a badly performing continent that's stuck in the past, very unstable, undemocratic and driven by an organisation that is obsessed with power.

7. Captain Thunderbolt , Wednesday, August 23, 2023, 06:18:

3. Sparky , Tuesday, August 22, 2023, 08:13:
looks like Facts4EU and readers still trying to convince themselves that the UK made the right decision to leave the EU
.
No convincing needed. The decision by the electorate is only decision that needs to be respected. Pity that did not happen for all the UK.
#
.
Our friends on the other side of the world, Australia's ruling Labor party has passed a motion supporting Irish reunification.
.
They also pass a motion to endorse the Yes vote for voice to parliament when polls are showing its heading for a massive defeat.
The Menzies government also tried to stop the UK from joining the EEC along with other Commonwealth countries.
Even de Gaulle could not understand why the UK wanted to join the EEC

8. Andy , Wednesday, August 23, 2023, 06:21:

3. Sparky. One notes that you do not actually address the points made in the article. Ted Heath lied to the public about the effects of membership on the UK and it is interesting to note that those politicians who opposed membership, such as Michael Foot and Enoch Powell have been proved right. The Foreign Office Memo, which was hidden away for longer than 30 years, proves that what they both said was true and correct.
I would make one further point. To have voted in the 1975 Referendum and to vote in the 2016 Referendum you would have had to be over 57. So you were young in 1975 and this is the group that enthusiastically supported membership. It is interesting to note that 40 years later this is the group which is more opposed to the European Union. Perhaps that is because they have seen its works and tire of it. One can hardly blame them.
The pity is you a man 'who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing'. Having the ability to rule our own affairs as we see fit and in our own interests is a prize beyond value.

9. Island Mentality , Wednesday, August 23, 2023, 06:24:

The Great Isolation, is more apt & what better spot than in between what will likely be 2 regional superpowers. One was created to counter the other ,which already has an affinity for military expansion across the globe & is firmly on a war footing on the world's most resourceful continent while simultaneously waging war with it's neighbour in Europe. The mineral wars being sparked in Africa by Wagner are in part, causing refugees to flea to Europe, just like when Russia sided with Syria in the M.E conflicts but they give Russia new markets, allies & mines.
With all these unintended, though foreseeable consequences at play; a pragmatic view would have been to push for change while we had at least one hand on the reins inside the EU. As an outsider, we can only watch as the growing titans seek to feed their own interests.
As a traditionally sea-faring power that has hardly any space to house it's own aging population, let alone the landmass to feed itself,
the UK was best placed to utilise the complimentary advantage of being closely allied with a neighbour the size of the EU.
It is the best way to counter Russia & China if it ever came to it. The US knows this & historically used our sea power, with great effect,
to expand itself to superpower status, before building it's own naval strength - hence the "special relationship" which hardly feels special anymore.
It is no surprise that NATO will be led by someone in the EU even if the UK is punching well above.
Brexit among other things, ensured that a potential superpower with a growing landmass, population & economic power that will rival only Russia
in Europe, has since 2016 been forced to re-assess it's interests & hasten in arming itself.

10. Island Mentality , Wednesday, August 23, 2023, 06:27:

cntd:
When, not if, NATO takes a back seat to the European army, then what? We can't trade-talk our way out of resource contention with the ravenous Russia or China, who are both currently scouring the globe, successfully, for resources & trade routes that will make sanctions less & less effective as time goes by.
Already, it has been found that Russians are not doing as bad economically as we'd think in this war. They've bypassed sanctions by holding grain supplies to Africa as ransom. The message is - give Russia access or starve.
Meanwhile, India, which pushed the UK out of 5th position is set to do very well from trade with Russia. The prediction is that India will soon surpass Germany to fourth place by 2026, Japan shortly thereafter to sit at 3rd in world GDP - this only 75 years after being a colony.
By 2031, India will have doubled it's current GDP levels & already has a successful space program. Within a few days, it will land on the far side of the moon. India has the potential to be a superpower rivalling any out there, in it's own right, at this rate.
Brexit may be good for an election cycle in the short term but as a long term reality, the landscape is dominated by powers that have the 'superpower' characteristics of size & population found only in China, Russia, India, the US & the EU. Characteristics that cannot be physically altered & would have been best considered before the vote.

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