The Community from 1970 to 1985 – years of stagnation
From 1970 to 1985 the Community was in a state of stagnation. This so-called “Euro sclerosis” can be explained partially by the difficult international situation, but more importantly by lack of desire on the part of the Member States for further integration.
Instead of developing an effective strategy for dealing with common problems created by the oil embargo in 1973, each Member State decided to act on its own.
As a result, the UK and France signed bilateral agreements with Iran and Saudi Arabia for oil supplies, while The Netherlands was left out in the cold with its supplies completely cut off by OPEC (The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries).
National interests and national policies prevailed over Community objectives. The stagnation of the Community was exacerbated by three major unsolved issues: budgetary matters, the UK contribution to the Community budget and the reform of the CAP. However, during that period some positive developments took place.
These included:
- – The reform of the Community budget;
- – The creation of “own resources” of the Community, aiming at replacing the system of national contributions;
- – The first direct elections in June 1979 to the EP; and
- – The formalization by the Paris Summit in December 1974 of summit meetings of heads of state or government of the Member States as a European Council.
