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European Economic Community (EEC)

The organization set up in Brussels by the Treaty of Rome of March 25, 1957; it is popularly called the Common Market. Another treaty created the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom). Six countries joined these Communities from January 1, 1958: France, West Germany, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg. The aim is to build a united Europe. The first step, proposed by the French Foreign Minister, Robert Schuman, was the uniting of the coal and steel industries. The Paris Treaty of April 1951 founded the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), with headquarters in Luxembourg.

At a meeting of the ECSC in Messina in June 1955, it was decided to unite members even more closely by forming a customs union. This means ending trade barriers between the members and developing a common tariff system to the rest of the world. By mid-1968, EEC completed this task; it is now seeking to weld the members into an economic union, to develop the free movement of labor and capital as well as coordinating tax and currency policies. Economically, EEC has been successful; with 185 million people, a large market has been formed.

Britain was invited to join the Communities when they were formed. At first she refused, and two later applications for membership (1961, 1967) were vetoed by France. Greece, Turkey and eighteen African countries are associate members.