and a common market. Six countries belonging to ECSC signed the treaty of Rome which established the European Economic Community (EEC) or the European Common Market, with headquarters at Brussels. Britain did not join the EEC. European Economic Community (EEC) EEC in Session The EEC facilitated the elimination of barriers to the movement of goods, services, capital, and labour.
It also prohibited public policies or private agreements that restricted market competition. A Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and a common external trade policy were evolved. In , Britain organised a rival organ known as the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) with Britain, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Austria and Portugal as members. But EFTA was weak since there were no common economic policies and no authority to intervene in the internal affairs of states.
In Britain decided to join EEC but the French President Charles de Gaulle opposed the entry because the economy of Britain was weak. After his resignation, British Prime Minister Edward Heath, with his skilful diplomacy, made way for Britain's entry. Britain was finally admitted on January along with Ireland and Denmark. Single European Act (SEA) The Single European Act that came into force on July , expanded the EEC’s scope further.
It called for more intensive coordination of foreign policy among member countries. According to the SEA, each member was given multiple votes, depending on the country’s population. Approval of legislation required roughly two-thirds of the votes of all The World after World War II members. The new procedure increased the power of European Parliament, which had been functioning since .
Specifically, legislative proposals that were rejected by the Parliament could be adopted by the Council of Ministers by a unanimous vote. European Union (EU) European Union Flag - Euro Currency In December the members of EC came together and signed the Treaty of Maastricht by which the European Union was established in with a single market. With the establishment of European Union, the members worked on other areas such as