Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • A historical international organization: The European Economic Community (EEC) was an organization of European countries created to promote economic integration, primarily by establishing a common market and reducing trade barriers among its member states. It was a major precursor to the modern European Union.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:
  • The European Economic Community was established by the Treaty of Rome in 1957.
  • France was a founding member of the European Economic Community.
  • The policies of the European Economic Community aimed to ensure the free movement of goods, people, and capital.

Advanced Usage

• Historical reference: The term is used primarily in historical and political contexts to refer to the organization that existed from 1958 to 1993.
  • The European Economic Community evolved into the European Community (EC), which later became a pillar of the European Union.

Variants and Related Words

• European Community (EC): The name adopted by the EEC in 1993 as part of the Maastricht Treaty.
• Common Market: A popular informal name for the EEC, emphasizing its core economic function.
• European Union (EU): The broader political and economic union that succeeded the European Communities.

Synonyms

• EEC (Abbreviation)
• Common Market (Informal)

Related Phrases

• Member of the EEC: A country belonging to the European Economic Community.
  • In 1973, the United Kingdom became a member of the EEC.

Noun

1. an international organization of European countries formed after World War II to reduce trade barriers and increase cooperation among its members
   • he tried to take Britain into the Europen Union