European Economic Community

European Economic Community. Founded by the Treaty of Rome in 1957, it was a pivotal international organization designed to foster economic integration and political cooperation among its member states in Western Europe. Often referred to as the "Common Market," its primary goals were the establishment of a customs union and the creation of common policies across key economic sectors. The community evolved over three decades, ultimately becoming a core component of the modern European Union.

History

The origins of the European Economic Community lie in the post-World War II drive for European unity, championed by figures like Robert Schuman and Jean Monnet. Its direct precursor was the European Coal and Steel Community, established by the Treaty of Paris among Belgium, France, West Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. The success of this venture led to the Messina Conference and the subsequent negotiation of the Treaty of Rome, signed on 25 March 1957. The treaty entered into force on 1 January 1958, creating the EEC alongside the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom). Key early milestones included the implementation of the Common Agricultural Policy and the completion of the customs union ahead of schedule by 1968. The Luxembourg Compromise of 1966 resolved a major institutional crisis, while the community expanded with the first enlargement to include the United Kingdom, Denmark, and Ireland in 1973.

Institutions

The governance of the European Economic Community was carried out by four main institutions, whose structure and powers were later inherited by the European Union. The European Commission, based in Brussels, served as the executive body, responsible for proposing legislation and managing community policies. The Council of the European Communities was the principal decision-making body, where ministers from national governments would vote on Commission proposals. A European Parliament, initially with limited consultative powers, was directly elected from 1979 onward, with its first session held in Strasbourg. The European Court of Justice, seated in Luxembourg, ensured the uniform interpretation and application of community law, issuing landmark rulings that reinforced its supremacy over national law.

Policies and achievements

The cornerstone policy of the European Economic Community was the creation of a customs union, which eliminated internal tariffs and established a Common External Tariff for trade with non-member countries. This was complemented by the ambitious Common Agricultural Policy, which aimed to ensure food security and stabilize farmers' incomes through market intervention and subsidies. The community also worked to ensure the free movement of goods, services, capital, and people, though the latter was fully realized later. Significant legal achievements included the principles of direct effect and supremacy established by the European Court of Justice in cases like Van Gend en Loos v Nederlandse Administratie der Belastingen and Costa v ENEL.

Member states

The six founding members, often called the "Inner Six," were Belgium, France, West Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. The first enlargement in 1973 brought in the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, and Denmark. Greece joined in 1981, followed by Spain and Portugal in 1986, marking a significant southward expansion that helped consolidate democracy in those nations after the fall of regimes like the Estado Novo and the Greek military junta of 1967–1974. At its final enlargement before transformation, the community comprised twelve member states.

Transition to the European Union

The evolution from the European Economic Community to the European Union was a gradual process of deepening integration. The Single European Act, signed in 1986, amended the Treaty of Rome and set the objective of completing the European Single Market by 1992. This was followed by the landmark Maastricht Treaty, formally known as the Treaty on European Union, which was signed in 1992 and came into force on 1 November 1993. The Maastricht Treaty established the European Union and created its three-pillar structure, with the EEC being renamed the European Community and placed within the first pillar. This treaty also laid the groundwork for Economic and Monetary Union, leading to the creation of the euro.

Category:European Economic Community Category:Defunct international organizations Category:European Union law