Catalogue description Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food: European Community Agricultural Council, Reviews and Associated Matters (ECC Series)

When the United Kingdom eventually joined the community in 1972, the European Economic Community Divisions I and II were formed. Division I dealt with general co-ordination of the Ministry’s relations, liaison with the United Kingdom permanent representative, and monetary questions, while Division II handled legal and parliamentary aspects and bilateral relations with other Community states. As the Community developed, each division gained responsibilities, Division I becoming responsible for liaison with the Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce, and input to the Common Agricultural Policy, while Division II handled the European Regional Development Fund and questions relating to enlargement of the Community.

In 1983 a Division III was created, to handle the annual review of agriculture (previously dealt with in Division I), liaison with the Home Office on questions relating to the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands, state aids to agriculture, and relations with OECD. The Division was abolished in 1984, and its functions distributed amongst Division I and II. Matters relating to the creation of a single internal market for the Community, Community Surplus food schemes and the Channel Tunnel were dealt with by Division II. The nomenclature of these Divisions changed with that of the community, European Economic Community Divisions becoming European Community Divisions in 1980, becoming in turn European Union Divisions in 1994. In April 1996, following a brief reversion to the title ‘European Community’, the Division II was re-named European Union Division II.