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The Early Years

1960-1969: The "swinging sixties" - A Period of Economic Growth

The 1960s
sees the emergence of 'youth culture’, with groups such as The Beatles
attracting huge crowds of teenage fans wherever they appear, helping to
stimulate a cultural revolution and widening the generation gap.  It is a good
period for the economy, helped by the fact that EU countries stop charging
custom duties when they trade with each other.  They also agree joint control
over food production, so that everybody now has enough to eat - and soon there
is even surplus agricultural produce.  May 1968 becomes famous for student riots
in Paris, and
many changes in society and behaviour become associated with the so-called ‘68
generation’. 

In August
1961, the communist authorities in East Germany
build a wall across Berlin
to prevent their citizens from escaping to a freer life in the West.  A few
people still escape; others are shot by guards in the attempt. 

30 July 1962

The EU
starts its ‘ common
agricultural policy ’ giving the countries joint
control over food production.  Farmers are paid the same price for their
produce.  The EU grows enough food for its needs and farmers earn well.  The
unwanted side-effect is overproduction with mountains of surplus produce.  Since
the 1990s, priorities have been to cut surpluses and raise food quality. 

‘Beatlemania’
sweeps the world in 1963.  The Beatles, the first pop supergroup, attract huge
crowds of teenagers wherever they appear.  They stimulate a cultural revolution,
widening the generation gap. 

20 July 1963

The EU signs
its first big international agreement — a deal to help 18 former colonies in Africa.  By 2005, it has a special partnership with 78
countries in Africa,the Caribbean and Pacific (ACP)regions.  The EU is the world’s biggest
provider of development assistance to poorer countries.  Its aid is linked to
respect for human rights by
recipients. 

Rioting by
students and workers in France
in May 1968 shakes the very foundations of the State.  Milder student protests
occur in other EU countries.  They reflect frustration at remote and
unresponsive governments as well as protests again the Vietnam War and the
nuclear arms race. 

1 July 1968

The six
remove customs duties on goods
imported from each other, allowing free cross-border trade for the first time.  They
also apply the same duties on their imports from outside countries.  The world’s
biggest trading group is born.  Trade among
the six and between the EU and the rest of the world grows rapidly. 

Soviet
tanks thunder into Prague in August 1968 to
crush the short-lived Prague spring of fledgling
democracy in Czechoslovakia. 
With over 600 000 troops occupying the country, the Czechs and Slovaks are
powerless.  One student, Jan Palach, burns himself to death in protest. 

The
Americans reassert their supremacy in space by landing a man on the moon in
July 1969. 

Comments

This project has been funded with the support of the European
Commission.  Relevant publications, communications and research work reflect only
the authors' views.  Hence, the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use
which may be made of the information contained therein.