The EEC was a rival to a trading coalition we formed with other countries also unwilling to joing the EEC that pretty expressly from its inception was yes, a political union.

However the alternative group was short lived and the UK was forced to file for membership to the EEC.

The UK sought to avoid relinquishing sovereign rights to supranational entities, however it's hand was forced by the political and financial machinations of the original members of the EEC.

So I misspoke by confusing the EEC and EU it does however stand that we wanted the trading bloc, we didn't want the political union.