Today and tomorrow sees a special conference organised by UACES to mark 40 years of British, Irish and Danish membership of the European Union.

As part of that, I’m presenting my paper on how we might see the membership of the Three as a positive development for the EU: you can read the full paper here.  The paper argues that the Three are often framed as problematic partners in  contemporary debate in the Union, given the numerous times their  national debates have clashed with other discourses. By way of contrast, this  paper argues that Denmark, Ireland and the UK have all – in different ways –  helped to make the Union fit for purpose in a globalising, post Cold-War world.  The original post-1945 compact between France and Germany was appropriate for  its time and its objectives, but was ill-suited to the economic and political  needs of the various economic and political agendas set in place from the 1970s  onwards. This is examined through three moments, each of which demonstrates how  these states have made lasting – and ultimately positive – contributions to the  integration process. The 1988 Bruges speech by Margaret Thatcher set out an  agenda for liberalisation and for the management of security that has proved  surprisingly resilient. The Danish ‘no’ vote to the Maastricht Treaty in 1992  properly opened up the question of popular legitimacy and consent, which has  shaped the constitutional debate ever since. Finally, the Irish securing of at  least one Commissioner per member state in 2007 was an important step in  maintaining small states’ rights. Taken together, I argue that the 1973  enlargement has been one of the most consequential for the EU’s development,  given the relevant states’ pragmatic and adaptive approach to integration.

The programme brings together some very interesting and engaging individuals and papers and I’m really looking forward to what the debate will bring.