European Economic community

The denomination European Economic community (the EEC) is the official name carried by the European Community (EC) between its foundation in 1957 and on November 1st 1993.

This article treats this historical period.

Foundation

The European Economic community was born, after the failure of the European Community of defense and the success of the Conférence of Messine, 1955, following the signature of the the Treaty of Rome, the March 25th 1957 with the Capitole (Room of Horaces and Curiaces), in Rome. Because of its main aim, it was often indicated like the Common Market .

With the signature of the the Treaty of Rome, six countries (the France, the Germany, the Italy, the Belgium, the Luxembourg and the Netherlands) create two new communities which are added to the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC):

The EEC had the role of exceeding the sectoral approach (that of the coal and the Acier) to extend integration to all the economic domain in order to create a true Common Market and an economic bringing together of the Member States. That passed by freedom of movement of the people (Convention of Schengen), of the goods, the capital and the services; by the abolition of the customs restrictions between its members; by the introduction of a common Agricultural policy (CAP), etc

It also already let foresee a economic Union and monetarist, the Euro area.

History and evolution

See also: History of the European Union

Institutions

The EEC (as well as Euratom) had its own institutions:

  • the Commission : supranational executive body. It will be amalgamated in 1967 with the executives of ECSC and Euratom in a single commission, the European commission
  • a the Council of Ministers : intergovernmental body.
  • a parliamentary Parliament common to the three communities (ECSC, the EEC, Euratom) which was made up national representatives designated by their Parlement. Based with Strasbourg, this assembled will become later the the European Parliament.
  • a Court of justice, based with Luxembourg.

All these institutions find themselves today in the structure of the European Union.

Since November 1st 1993, the denomination European Community replaces that of European Economic community.

Chronology of the European Union

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