ðɪ ˌɔːɹɡɐnəzˈeɪʃən wʌz ɚɹˈɪdʒɪnəli kˈɔːld ðə jˌʊɹɹəpˈiən fˈoːɹəm ænd ɪts fˈɜːst ˈænjuːəl dʒˈɛnɚɹəl mˈiːɾɪŋ wʌz hˈɛld dʒˈʌst ˈæftɚ sˌɜːɹ ˈɛdwɚd hˈiːθz dʒˈɛnɚɹəl ᵻlˈɛkʃən vˈɪktɚɹi ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛvənti.
The organisation was originally called the European Forum and its first annual general Meeting was held just after Sir Edward Heath's General Election victory in 1970.