Ireland and the EEC

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this research is to examine the entry of Ireland into the European Economic Community (EEC). Specific questions are addressed with respect to (1) Ireland's reasons for joining the EEC, together with the political and economic considerations involved, including the AngloIrish Free Trade Pact, and (2) the consequences of Irish membership in the EECboth positive and negative. The initial discussion following this introduction provides background information on the EEC. This background is followed by the discussions of the IrishEEC relationship.

The EEC was created with the signing of a treaty in Rome in 1957, by Belgium, France, the Federal Republic of Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands (Paxton, 1988, p. 41). The European Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM) was created at the same time, by the same treaty, and with the same membership (p. 45). Each of these organizations became functioning realities on 1 January 1958 (pp. 41, 45). Prior to the creation of the EEC and EURATOM, the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) had been created by a treaty signed in Paris in 1951 (p. 43). The ECSC was comprised of the same six member countries which formed the EEC and EURATOM, and became a functional reality on 10 August 1952 (p. 43).

Until 1 July 1967, each of the three communitiesthe EEC, EURATOM, and ECSCfunctioned as separate entities, although there were some common institu

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n currency (Kloten, 1985, p. 181), an event which would further enhance the financial integration of the member nations of the European Communities. Ireland's Joining The EEC Modern Ireland's history as an independent country is relatively short. Independence from Britain was proclaimed in 1916; however, the insurrection was quelled. Independence was reaffirmed in 1919 by a national parliament (Dail) elected in 1918. Armed conflict ensued, and continued through 1921. In 1920, the British parliament passed a law providing for separate Southern Irish (26 counties), and Northern Irish (six counties) parliaments. The majority of the population of Northern Ireland accepted the scheme, and elected its own parliament in mid1921. The population in the 26 counties of the south officially ignored the British action. In December 1921, Britain and Southern Ireland signed a treaty under which Ireland accepted dominion status within the British Commonwealth of Nations (Paxton, 1988, p. 710). One provision of the treaty permitted Northern Ireland to opt out of the agreement, which it did. Thus, was borne the twoIreland concept. A boundary line between Northern Ireland and Southern Ireland was fixed, and the

Category: Foreign - I