Precursor to the EU in 1973, and then Britain's voting by a large margin to remain in the EEC in 1975. These Eurosceptic feelings never completely went away.
The European Economic Community, EEC, also known as the Common Market, was formed by the six founding member states of the ECSC under the treaty establishing the European Economic Community.
And the problem is, that the Minister feels there would be more votes...that he would be better expressing the views of the British people by joining the attack on the EEC than by leaping to its defence.