EuropeanEconomic Community

European Economic Community Informally the Common Market. Abbr. EEC

An economic organization established in 1958 to reduce tariff barriers and promote trade among western European countries, including Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, France, Italy, and West Germany. The United Kingdom, Ireland, and Denmark joined in 1973, Greece in 1981, Spain and Portugal in 1986, and Austria, Finland, and Sweden in 1995.

* * *