Aims and Achievements
The main aim of the EEC, as stated in its preamble, was to "preserve peace and liberty and to lay the foundations of an ever closer union among the peoples of Europe". Calling for balanced economic growth, this was to be accomplished through:
- The establishment of a customs union with a common external tariff
- Common policies for agriculture, transport and trade
- Enlargement of the EEC to the rest of Europe
For the customs union, the treaty provided for a 10% reduction in custom duties and up to 20% of global import quotas. Progress on the customs union proceeded much faster than the twelve years planned. However, France faced some setbacks due to their war with Algeria.
Read more about this topic: European Economic Community
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