In reply to J1234: I don't mean to mock you but this post kind sums up the British discussion on Europe.
The EEC hasn't existed for 16 years, it became the "first pillar" of the EU on the signing of the Maastricht treaty in 1993. The first pillar's official title is the "European Community" and means mainly issues connected the common market. The second pillar is external relations and covers ESDP (European security and defence policy) and CFSP (Common foreign and security policy. The third pillar is about legal, judicial and policing within the EU - most people still call it JHA (Justice and Home Affairs) although officially its now called the the area of freedom, security and loveliness or something like that. What ever it is - it's not as easy to say as JHA.
For a brief (and best of all free) introduction to the history, institutions and decision making systems of the EU, go here and download:
http://shop.ceps.eu/BookDetail.php?item_id=1791
If you have a lot of time, and really want to read something big but rewarding - Hugo Young's "This Blessed Plot: Britain and Europe from Churchill to Blair" from 98 is still the seminal work on Britain's relationship to the EU. But although beautifully written it is a BIG book!
And if you - as you clearly are - wondering why "I don`t like the common market, but... I don`t really understand it`s history" read Charles Grant's excellent essay "Why is Britain so Eurosceptic?"
http://www.cer.org.uk/pdf/essay_eurosceptic_19dec08.pdf The short answer being because our press lies to us and most of our politicians are cowards and opportunists.
