2.2.1 The Beginning of the EU’s Environmental Policy
Initially the European Union was founded as an economic union creating a “common
market”- a fully integrated single market within the boundaries of the Member States - to
ensure the free movement of goods, services, capital and persons. The environment as such
was not mentioned in the founding treaties establishing the European Economic Union
(EEC). In fact, the beginning of environmental protection happened as a byproduct when the