General   (General discussion, talk about anything.)

TTS

History repeating itself.

When General De Gaulle said 'non' twice to oppose the UK joining the Common Market it was a delaying tactic. He wasn't against the UK joining but wanted the Common Agricultural Policy enshrined in European law first so that the British couldn't veto it when they joined. By extension it would later incorporate the Common Fisheries Policy.
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''De Gaulle pointed out that Australian, Canadian, and New Zealand farmers were richer than French or German farmers, they were also astonishingly productive and their produce was of higher quality. “Britain continues to supply itself cheaply in Canada, New Zealand, Australia,” he complained at one stage. “What will we do with European, and particularly French surpluses? If we have to spend 500 billion [francs] a year on agricultural subsidies what will happen if the Common Market can no longer assist us?”
Quote from a new book by Professor Vernon Bogdanor.
You can read a review of the book here..

Common Market