An economic and political organization formed in 1967 from the consolidation of three western European treaty organizations, the European Economic Community, the European Coal and Steel Community, and the European Atomic Energy Community. Its members are the same as those of the European Economic Community. the former name of the EU (=the European Union). Organization formed in 1967 with the merger of the European Economic Community, European Coal and Steel Community, and European Atomic Energy Community. The merger created a single Commission of the European Community and a single Council of Ministers. Other executive, legislative, and judicial bodies also were collected under the umbrella of the EC. In 1993 the EC became the basis of the European Union, and the European Economic Community was renamed the European Community