ABSTRACT
The European Economic Community (EEC) was brought into being by the Treaty of Rome 1957. Initially there were six members of the EEC: France, Luxembourg, Belgium, West Germany, Italy and the Netherlands. The purpose behind the formation of the EEC was the promotion of the economic integration of the member states for their mutual benefit. At the time of writing, the European Union (EU), as it is now known, comprises 27 member states, the United Kingdom having been a member since 1973.
