The campaign to join the then EEC was just as deceitful as this year ' s referendum when they sold it to the general public as just a free trade group rather than a federal political projectBut they didn ' t . This is another one of the Brexiteers ' lies that leave voters swallowed whole . The EEC was sold as a political project . digital . co . ukeuropamphlet . htm is the text of a pamphlet sent out by the Government in 1975 . Page 5 , immediately after the introduction and a bit of info on the referendum itselfThe aims of the Common Market are To bring together the peoples of Europe . To raise living standards and improve working conditions . To promote growth and boost world trade . To help the poorest regions of Europe and the rest of the world . To help maintain peace and freedomIt was never just about free trade .