A novel collection that draws together a European field of expertise and resources. It reveals how Belgian, French, Italian, Luxembourg, Dutch, and West German politicians, policymakers and commentators perceived independent Ireland from the end of the Second World War until Irish accession to the European Economic Community (EEC) in 1973.

This is a pathbreaking in-depth analysis of Ireland 's efforts to gain entry into the European Communities (EC) between 1958 and 1973. It draws on archives from eleven countries (Europe, North America and the South Pacific) to present a complete account of Ireland 's path to Europe for the first time. The book examines Ireland 's relations with the six members of the EC and the institutions of the EEC and NATO and Irish efforts to convince Western Europe that Ireland was a worthy member of the EC. Uniquely, it documents European perceptions, reactions and attitudes to Ireland 's endeavors. In addition, it incorporates the British and British Commonwealth perspective.