A Political and Economic Dictionary of Western Europe, First Edition
The European Community (EC) is the term given to the first pillar of the European Union (EU). It was originally established as the European Communities (also EC) following the merger of the European Economic Community, the European Coal and Steel Community and Euratom into a single body in 1967.
The EC is the supranational part of the EU and policy-making procedures in the EC are subject to the community method.
This means that the European Commission initiates a legislative proposal, which then has to be agreed by the Council of the European Union and, now usually, the European Parliament. This contrasts with intergovernmental areas where it is the Council that normally has the right to initiate and decide on legislation. The policy areas which fall under the EC include matters relating to the Single European Market, freedom of movement of goods, services, capital and people, agriculture, environment, competition and trade. It also includes Economic and Monetary Union and, since the Treaty of Amsterdam, some aspects of Justice and Home Affairs.
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