How did the European Union expand during the 1970s and 1980s?

During the 1970s and 1980s, the European Economic Community (EEC) significantly expanded its membership through a series of accessions:

• 1973: The United Kingdom, Denmark, and Ireland were admitted to the community.12
• 1981: Greece joined the organization.12
• 1986: Portugal and Spain became members.12

Beyond increasing its membership, the community expanded its scope and institutional depth during these decades. In 1975, the European Regional Development Fund was established to address economic disparities, and members endorsed the Lomé Convention to provide development assistance to African, Caribbean, and Pacific nations. Furthermore, the European Monetary System was created in 1979 to coordinate exchange rates, and the Single European Act, which entered into force in 1987, committed members to removing remaining barriers to a common market.12