EEC (European Economic Community)

One of the three *European Communities. It was created by the Treaty of Rome in 1957 with the broad object of furthering economic development within the Community by the establishment of a Common Market and the approximation of the economic policies of member states. Its more detailed aims include eliminating customs duties internally and adopting a common customs tariff externally, the following by member states of common policies on agriculture and transport, promoting the free movement of labour and capital between member states, and outlawing within the Community all practices leading to the distortion of competition. The Single European Act (1986), given effect in the UK by the European Communities (Amendment) Act 1986, contains provisions designed to make 'concrete progress' towards European unity, including measures progressively to establish a single European market by the end of 1992.

The original members of the EEC were Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. The UK, the Republic of Ireland, and Denmark joined in 1972, Greece in 1981, and Spain and Portugal in 1986. The changes in UK law necessary as a result of her joining were made by the European Communities Act 1972.