One of the primary goals in the EC treaty, found in Articles 2 and 3, is the creation of a common market and the integration and harmonisation of Member States rules on the free movement of goods and services.

A breakthrough in the integration process came as a result of a ruling of the European Court of Justice, using a principle called mutual recognition . In Cassis de Dijon  the German authorities refused to allow a French liquor to be sold as a liquor in Germany because it did not meet the minimum alcohol content limit that German legislation required. The German authorities claimed this was to protect consumers….(short extract)