Britain emerged from the war in a relatively favourable position, compared to its European neighbours. In 1946 industrial production was as high as at any time pre-war, and increasing quite fast. By the end of the year exports had regained their pre-war level along with this there was little unemployment and retail prices remained fairly stable. All this contrasted strongly with the situation in France, Germany and Italy. Indeed in the late 1940's and into the early 1950's Britain's economy performed better then it's European counterparts. Churchill suggested that France and West Germany should lead the creation of a new Europe for "justice, mercy and freedom". He implied the Britain was above such an organisation because he didn't think the UK needed to be involved economically. After all, the height of the British Empire was only in 1933 when one quarter of the world's landmass and one quarter of its population was under British control. Many, as well as Churchill assumed Britain's traditional world status was not destined to whither, and Churchill called for the United States, the USSR and Britain to be "friends and sponsors" of

However it was not after vetos from the French Prime Minister, Charles De Gaulle, and many years until Britain finally joined the EEC in 1973 with the signing of the treaty of accession on January 1st 1973. However this was not after many debates in parliament on the terms on the joining.

In response to the creation of the EEC, Britain performed an act of even further arrogance and self-exclusion with there creation of the European Free Trade Association set up to rival the EEC. France rejected the integration of the EEC countries into the EFTA as they felt that it would be weaker than the EEC and as a result no EEC countries could join the association. This meant that only those that were not involved in the EEC could join EFTA. This meant that the countries that joined were even more economically weak compared to Britain than those in the EEC. Those who joined EFTA included Austria, Norway, Sweden, Portugal and Switzerland.

However after not very long it became apparent that EFTA was clearly weaker that the EEC and as a result Britain had declined economically compared to other European countries. Also it had become clear that with their self-exclusion from Europe and the deterioration of the commonwealth, Britain had lost its place in the world and needed to find their role. On turning to their close ally the US, Britain was advised to join Europe and under this advice and application was made in 1961, by Tory PM Harold Macmillan, to join the EEC.

a new Europe, underlying the idea that Britain felt superior to Europe.

Community only sending an observer to the negotiations. The official line on Britain's non-entry being ,"we are not willing to make prior commitment to a scheme whose terms of membership are unknown." This also underlines the fact that Britain wanted to con

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