the European Economic Community
/ðə ˌjʊərəpiːən ˌiːkənɒmɪk kəˈmjuːnəti/, /ðə ˌjʊərəpiːən ˌekənɒmɪk kəˈmjuːnəti/
/ðə ˌjʊrəpiːən ˌiːkənɑːmɪk kəˈmjuːnəti/, /ðə ˌjʊrəpiːən ˌekənɑːmɪk kəˈmjuːnəti/
(abbreviation the EEC)
- a former organization, started in 1957, to encourage trade within Europe. In Britain it was also known as the Common Market. It became a part of the European Community (now the European Union) in 1967.