European Economic Community

The European Economic Community (EEC) was established in 1957 to promote regional economic and geographical coordination and cooperation. Six founding nations -Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and West Germany signed the Treaty of Rome to collaborate and serve the common purpose.

European Economic Community (EEC) was renamed the European Community (EC) in 1993, as its scope expanded beyond economic integration to include policies related to foreign affairs, justice, and home affairs. In 2009, the EU fully absorbed it through the Treaty of Lisbon. As a result, the EU became the sole framework for European integration, and the European Community ceased to exist as a distinct entity.

• The European Economic Community (EEC) is one of the earliest regional organizations formed to bring economic cooperation among its member countries.
• The EEC is often regarded as the foundation of the European Union, which extends beyond economics and focuses on political and social integration.
• The EEC had twelve full-time members – six founding and six associate countries.
• The European Union absorbed the organization in 2009. The EU took up its objectives and functions, which included more members and was more powerful.

European Economic Community consisted of neighboring countries collaborating to achieve economic integration by removing trade barriers, implementing standard policies, and promoting the free movement of goods, services, capital, and labor. This collaboration laid the foundation for deeper economic integration and established the European Union (EU).

The focus on a single or common market across member countries was so prominent that the EEC was otherwise known as the European Common Market. However, one of the noteworthy features of the EEC is that it only granted membership to democratic countries. Greece, Spain, and Portugal are a few examples of countries allowed to join only after establishing democracy.

In 1993, the members decided it was time for the organization to expand beyond economic integration and focus on political and other regional issues. Thus, EEC was renamed the European Community (EC) via the Maastricht Treaty.

Around the same time, it was integrated into the EU as the 'first pillar.' The other pillars include the EURATOM and the ECSC. Then, in 1994, the European Economic Area agreement paved the way for the internal market. The EC was a part of this agreement which included non-member European countries.

The EC also focused on regional politics. The member countries discussed the movement of people across borders - immigration, visas, refugees, etc. and also about criminal and judicial systems in each nation.

In 2009, the Treaty of Lisbon was enacted, and the EC ceased to exist. Its operations were overtaken by the EU, which had a broader scope of objectives and included more members from across Europe.

The creation of the European Economic Community often begins with the formation of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC). The ECSC was one of the first regional organizations established in 1951 via the Treaty of Paris. 

In 1955, the Messina Conference introduced the idea of a customs union in Europe. Following this, a report was produced by the Spaak Committee in 1956. The same year, the Intergovernmental Conference on the Common Market and Euratom was held. Consequently, the Treaty of Rome was established in 1957.

The signing of the Treaty of Rome formed European Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM) and EEC. The EEC, EURATOM, and the ECSC became the European Communities via the Merger Treaty of 1965. A few of the most significant achievements by the EEC are the standardization of agricultural product prices in 1962 and the abolishment of internal trade tariffs in 1968 among its members.

Here are the main functions of European Economic Community:

• EEC's primary objective was economic integration in the region, as is evident from the organization's name. The six founding members were neighboring countries. The member countries which were added later, too, had geographical proximity to the founding members. 
• The founders established a common market and customs union amongst themselves. The market facilitated the members' easy flow of goods, services, capital, and information.
• The organization established standard policies in agriculture, trade, and transport. 
• The EEC also aimed to maintain peace and liberty among their members and all of Europe. It became a prime focus after the EEC became the EC. 
• Finally, the organization also targeted bringing all the European countries under their umbrella and coordinating across the continent.

Here is the list of the European economic community countries. Before the organization became a unit of the European Union, it had twelve members. 

Founding Countries (1957)

• Belgium
• France
• Italy
• Luxembourg
• Netherlands
• West Germany

Other Members (In chronological order of membership)

• Britain – 1973
• Denmark – 1973
• Ireland – 1973
• Greece – 1981
• Spain – 1986
• Portugal – 1986
• East Germany – 1990 (Through unification with West Germany and, subsequently, Germany).

These are some of the challenges and Criticisms faced by the EEC. However, these challenges and criticisms do not negate the significant achievements and positive impacts of the EEC.

1. Democratic Deficit: Critics argued that decision-making power was concentrated in the hands of unelected officials and technocrats, diminishing the role of national parliaments and limiting citizens' direct influence.
2. Social Impact and Worker Rights: Critics argued that increased competition within the common market could lead to job losses, lower wages, and reduced worker protections, particularly in industries facing international competition.
3. Agriculture and CAP: The EEC's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) faced significant criticism. Critics argued that the policy resulted in high agricultural subsidies, market distortions, overproduction of certain goods, and negative environmental consequences.
4. Economic Disparities and Structural Adjustment: Economic integration within the EEC posed challenges for less-developed regions and industries.

This has been a guide to what is European Economic Community (EEC). Here, we explain its members, objectives, history, and challenges. You can learn more about it from the following articles –

• NAFTA
• Free Trade Area
• Customs Union