Scotland's relationship with the European Economic Community (EEC)

In 1973 the United Kingdom joined the European Economic Community and, despite continuing protests from certain groups, has remained a member. As a region of the UK much of Scotland's relationship with the EEC has to be viewed in a British context. However as a peripheral region of both the UK and the EEC, certain aspects of membership have particularly important effects on Scotland. While much of the impetus to form the Community arose for political reasons, the principal features are all based on economics. This brief paper examines Scotland's relationship with the EEC and the features that characterise this relationship.