ABSTRACT
The United Kingdom became a member of the European Community initially by signing the Treaty of Rome and subsequently by passing the European Communities Act 1972, which took effect on 1 January 1973. This statute is the means through which EC law is linked with our own national law. As mentioned earlier, some EC law becomes effective in its entirety, without any intervention by member states, and automatically becomes part of their national law. On those occasions where this does not apply, EC law becomes domestic law either by statutory instrument
or by Act of Parliament under the auspices of the European Communities Act 1972.
