# United Kingdom joins the European Communities (1973)

URL: https://english-history.com/timeline/1973-united-kingdom-joins-the-european-communities
Categories: main-event

Britain entered the European Economic Community and related communities alongside Ireland and Denmark. Within the broader Postwar & Modern UK period, decolonization, welfare institutions, migration, European integration and withdrawal, devolution and social change reshaped the modern United Kingdom. This event is placed at 1 January 1973 in the chronology so it can be read alongside the political, military, social and cultural changes around it. Membership reshaped trade, law and politics for the next four decades.

## Why it matters
Membership reshaped trade, law and politics for the next four decades.

Ruler at the time: [Elizabeth II](https://english-history.com/rulers/elizabeth-ii)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia topic lookup — United Kingdom joins the European Communities](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Search?search=United+Kingdom+joins+the+European+Communities&go=Go)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica topic lookup — United Kingdom joins the European Communities](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=United+Kingdom+joins+the+European+Communities)
- [Wikipedia — Timeline of British history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_British_history)
- [The National Archives — Postwar collection](https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/explore-the-collection/explore-by-time-period/postwar/)