When did UK join EU? UK was a member of EEC, but when did they join EU?

Question

UK joined EEC in 1973, but EU came into existence in the year 1993. Did UK ever join the EU or where they already considered as a member of EU since they were members of EEC?

Answer 1

they never did

Answer 2

The EEC turned into the EU after the Treaty of Maastrict.  So when the UK Parliament ratified the treaty with the excemptions it wanted it and when all the other existing members ratified the treaty the EEC turned into the EU.