冷 The European Union Or Britain joined the EEC in 1973 and as one of its members Britain is now part an EU trading bloc accounting for about one third of the world's trade Nowadays the nations of the European Union taken as a whole are the largest group of countries both as suppliers and markets for the UK. In 1998 they bought 58% of British exports and provided 55% of the country's imports Within the EU Germany is Britains major market and supplier of imports mainly machinery and manufactured goods including cars and chemicals Next in importance are france which sells manufactures and food to britain and the Netherlands which provide dairy produce and other food, followed by Italy, Belgium and Ireland In 1992 the Single European Market was introduced. This enables the free passage of goods, capital and labour between the member countries❖ The European Union --- Britain joined the EEC in 1973 and as one of its members Britain is now part of an EU trading bloc accounting for about one third of the world’s trade. --- Nowadays the nations of the European Union taken as a whole are the largest group of countries both as suppliers and markets for the UK. In 1998 they bought 58% of British exports and provided 55% of the country’s imports. --- Within the EU Germany is Britain’s major market and supplier of imports (mainly machinery and manufactured goods including cars and chemicals). Next in importance are France, which sells manufactures and food to Britain, and the Netherlands which provide dairy produce and other food, followed by Italy, Belgium and Ireland. --- In 1992 the Single European Market was introduced. This enables the free passage of goods, capital and labour between the member countries