EC here means the European Community — the old name people used for the group of European countries that later became the European Union (the EU).

EC EC here在這裡 means the European Community指的是European Community（歐洲共同體） — the old name people used for the group of European countries that later became the European Union (the EU)也就是人們以前用來稱呼那群後來變成歐盟（EU）的歐洲國家的舊名稱。

Older British newspapers, school books, and official papers often said ‘the EC’ the way people now say ‘the EU.’ The story underneath is a little messy: there was first the European Economic Community (sometimes called the Common Market), then the name European Community, and then the European Union, which took over in everyday talk.

Older British newspapers, school books, and official papers較舊的英國報紙、教科書和官方文件 often said 'the EC' the way people now say 'the EU.'常常說'the EC'，就像現在人們說'the EU'一樣。The story underneath背後的來龍去脈 is a little messy有點複雜: there was first the European Economic Community一開始有European Economic Community（歐洲經濟共同體） (sometimes called the Common Market)（有時候叫做Common Market共同市場）, then the name European Community後來改叫European Community（歐洲共同體）, and then the European Union再後來變成European Union（歐洲聯盟）, which took over in everyday talk在日常說法裡取代了前面的名稱。

For a learner, the useful fact is this: in a history text or an old news story, EC is probably the same political family as today’s EU, not a different club. In today’s news, people say EU, not EC.

For a learner對學習者來說, the useful fact is this有個實用的重點是: in a history text or an old news story在歷史課本或舊新聞報導裡, EC is probably the same political family as today's EU EC很可能跟今天的EU是同一個政治體系, not a different club而不是不同的組織。In today's news在今天的新聞裡, people say EU, not EC人們會說EU，而不是EC。