Franco-British relations and Europe, from EEC membership to Brexit : Georges Pompidou and Edward Heath

Georges Pompidou and Edward Heath marked a milestone in the centuries-old relationship between France and the United Kingdom, one shaped by rivalries and mutual stereotypes but also strategic convergence, especially in times of crisis. They formed a ‘Franco-British couple’ at a time when the French president was assessing the transformation of the global economic and monetary system, and when the British Prime Minister was successfully convincing both Parliament and public opinion of the opportunity offered by the EEC for Britain to anchor itself within Europe.

The fiftieth anniversary of Georges Pompidou’s death and Edward Heath’s departure from Downing Street, and the 120th anniversary of the Entente Cordiale (2024), naturally invite us to reflect on this historical turning point and its long-term consequences, particularly in light of archival materials recently made available at the French National Archives and the Weston Library in Oxford, which open up broad avenues for research.

This volume brings together several articles by French and British specialists covering the various dimensions of the Franco-British relationship in Europe—from strategic cooperation to culture—while highlighting the evolution of the United Kingdom’s political and economic situation.