The group was set up on 14 May 1986, following a meeting in Belfast and was initially chaired by Clifford Smyth and then by Robert McCartney, at the time a member of the Ulster Unionist Party.
[1] Many of the CEC's members were also involved in the British and Irish Communist Organisation and its front group, the Ingram Society.
[2][3] It was born from opposition to the Anglo-Irish Agreement with the Campaign fearing that the devolution proposals contained in the AIA would be the first step towards a united Ireland.
[1] However, it did gain some support amongst the 'Catholic Unionist' bloc, Roman Catholic supporters of the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland and a number of people involved with the Campaign for Labour Representation in Northern Ireland.
[5] The group suffered a split in 1988, when its president Robert McCartney resigned over a dispute with its executive.