Second Enlargement

Summary of Second Enlargement

The expansion of the European Communities beyond its 1980 membership. The first enlargement occurred when Great Britain, Ireland, and Denmark joined the EC in 1972, raising the membership to nine (the original members were France, Federal Republic of Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Belgium). The second enlargement added Greece, Spain, and Portugal to the community. Greece joined on January 1, 1981; Spain and Portugal are expected to be accepted into membership not later than 1987.

(Main Author: William J. Miller)