<P> The Treaty of Accession was signed in January 1972 by the then prime minister Edward Heath , leader of the Conservative Party . Parliament 's European Communities Act 1972 was enacted on 17 October , and the UK 's instrument of ratification was deposited the next day ( 18 October ) , letting the United Kingdom 's membership of the EC come into effect on 1 January 1973 . </P>
<P> The Treaty of Accession was signed in January 1972 by the then prime minister Edward Heath , leader of the Conservative Party . Parliament 's European Communities Act 1972 was enacted on 17 October , and the UK 's instrument of ratification was deposited the next day ( 18 October ) , letting the United Kingdom 's membership of the EC come into effect on 1 January 1973 . </P>
when did great britain join the european union
when did great britain join the european union
1 January 1973
1 January 1973