a market where obstacles to free movement of the important sectors of the economy have been removed. Although a general term in economics, it is of special significance to lawyers as one of the foundations of the European Union. In the European Economic Community Treaty, the essential part of the Common Market was expressed as involving four freedoms: free movement of goods, free movement of persons, free movement of services and freedom of establishment and free movement of capital. It also requires more positive steps, and these are reflected in policies: the Common Agricultural Policy, the transport policy and competition policy. The Single European Act prescribed a timetable for the single internal market. In the UK, in common parlance, the term Common Market is still erroneously or mischievously used of the European Union itself.
Collins dictionary of law. W. J. Stewart. 2001.