Withdrawal from the European Union facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

"Article 50" redirects here. For the former Eurosceptic political party in the Netherlands, see Article 50 (political party).

Article 50 is a special rule in the Treaty on European Union (TEU). It explains how a country can leave the European Union (EU). This rule lets a country decide to leave "in accordance with its own constitutional requirements." This means the country must follow its own laws to make such a big decision.

So far, the United Kingdom is the only country that has officially left the European Union. This process started when the UK government used Article 50 on March 29, 2017. This followed a public vote in June 2016, where people decided to leave. The UK officially left the EU on January 31, 2020, after being a member for 47 years.

Besides the UK, four other areas that were part of EU countries have also left. These include French Algeria in 1962 (when it became independent), Greenland in 1985, Saint Pierre and Miquelon also in 1985, and Saint Barthélemy in 2012. The last three became special "Overseas Countries and Territories" of the EU.

Why Article 50 Was Created

Before Article 50, there was no clear rule for a country to leave the EU. When new countries were joining the EU in 2004, they wanted a way out if being an EU member caused problems for them. This led to the idea of having an exit rule.

Article 50 was first written by a British diplomat named Lord Kerr of Kinlochard. He was part of a group that helped create the rules for the EU's future. Even though the first plan for a European Constitution didn't work out, the idea of Article 50 was kept. It was then added to the Treaty of Lisbon, which became law in 2009.

Before this, it was unclear if a country could legally leave. Some thought countries always have the right to leave international agreements. Others believed that EU treaties were meant to last forever and aimed for a "closer union," which didn't fit with a country leaving. Article 50 made the process clear.

How a Country Leaves the EU

Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union explains the steps a country takes to leave the EU. It was put in place by the Treaty of Lisbon in 2009. Here are the main steps:

A country decides to leave based on its own laws.
The country tells the European Council (which is made up of the leaders of EU countries) about its decision.
The EU then talks and agrees on a deal with the leaving country. This deal covers how they will separate and what their future relationship will be like.
This agreement needs to be approved by the Council of the European Union (representing EU governments) and the European Parliament.
The treaties stop applying to the leaving country either when the agreement starts or, if there's no agreement, two years after the country first said it wanted to leave. This two-year period can be made longer if everyone agrees.
When discussing the leaving process, the country that is leaving does not get to vote or take part in the discussions.
If a country that has left wants to rejoin the EU, it has to follow the same rules as any new country applying to join.

This rule doesn't cover some overseas areas. Their status can be changed more easily without a full treaty change.

Starting the Process

Once a country tells the European Council it wants to leave, a period of talks begins. During these talks, they work out the details of leaving and what their future relationship will be. The country that wants to leave is the one that starts this process.

Article 50 allows for a planned departure because leaving the EU is complicated. However, it also means a country has a clear right to leave on its own. This is because a country decides to leave "in accordance with its own constitutional requirements." Also, the EU treaties will stop applying after two years, even if no agreement is reached. This shows that the EU cannot force a country to stay.

Talking About the Deal

The EU treaties stop applying to the country either when the withdrawal agreement begins or, if there's no agreement, two years after the country said it would leave. This two-year period can be extended if all EU countries agree.

The European Commission (the EU's executive body) negotiates the leaving agreement for the EU. They follow instructions from the other EU countries. The agreement must explain how the country will leave and what its future relationship with the EU will look like. The Council of the European Union must approve the agreement by a special majority vote. The European Parliament must also agree to it.

If a country wants to rejoin the EU after leaving, it must apply like any other new country. It would need to negotiate a new treaty and have every EU country approve it.

What if Talks Fail?

Article 50 is designed for a smooth, negotiated exit. This is because leaving the EU is very complex, especially since many EU laws are part of each country's own laws. But the process also makes it clear that a country has the right to leave, even if no agreement is reached. The EU cannot stop a country from leaving.

If the talks don't lead to an agreement, the country still leaves without a deal. In this case, EU laws would simply stop applying to that country. For trade, both sides would likely follow World Trade Organization rules, which means new taxes on goods.

Can a Country Change Its Mind?

Article 50 doesn't clearly say if a country can change its mind after it has said it wants to leave. However, many legal experts and EU institutions believe a country can stop the process. They say that an "intention" to leave can be changed before the actual leaving happens.

In 2018, the European Court of Justice (the EU's highest court) ruled on this. They said it would be "inconsistent with the EU treaties' purpose" to force a country to leave if it no longer wanted to. So, a country can stop its withdrawal process on its own, as long as it hasn't already left and the decision is made democratically according to its own laws.

However, the European Parliament has said that if a country wants to stop its withdrawal, there should be conditions set by all other EU countries. This is to prevent a country from using the rule just to get a better deal.

If a country has already left the EU and then wants to rejoin, it must apply like any other country. It would need to negotiate a new treaty and have every EU country approve it.

Overseas Regions

Some overseas areas connected to EU countries have special rules. TFEU Article 355 allows their status to be changed more easily. For example, an "overseas country or territory" (OCT) can become an "outermost region" (OMR) or vice versa. This doesn't need a full change to the main EU treaties.

Countries and Territories That Have Left

Some areas that were linked to EU members have ended their formal ties with the EU. This happened when they became independent or were transferred to a country not in the EU. Many of these areas were not fully part of the EU but were associated with it.

Some current territories have also changed their status so that EU law no longer fully applies to them. The process for these changes was made easier by the Treaty of Lisbon.

Past Withdrawals

Territories

Algeria

Algeria was part of France and therefore part of the European Communities (the EU's earlier name). When Algeria became independent in 1962, it stopped being part of France. Algeria remained linked to the EU's predecessor until 1976. Then, a new agreement made Algeria a neighboring country associated with the EU, rather than a member.

Greenland

Greenland is a territory of Denmark. It chose to leave the EU's predecessor without separating from Denmark. When Denmark joined in 1973, Greenland joined too, even though its people had voted against it. After Greenland gained more self-rule in 1979, it held another vote and decided to leave. After talks about fishing rights, Greenland left in 1985. It still has a special association with the EU as an "Overseas Country and Territory."

Saint Pierre and Miquelon

Saint Pierre and Miquelon, a French territory, was once part of the EU but left on June 11, 1985.

Saint Barthélemy

Saint Barthélemy is a French island. In 2007, it separated from Guadeloupe, which is an EU region. Saint Barthélemy became an "overseas collectivity" of France. Its people wanted a different EU status that better suited their small, tourism-focused island. So, France asked the EU to change its status to an "Overseas Country or Territory" (OCT). This change happened on January 1, 2012.

Member States

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom officially left the EU on January 31, 2020. This followed a public vote in June 2016 where people voted to leave. On March 29, 2017, Prime Minister Theresa May officially started the leaving process by using Article 50.

After a new election in December 2019, Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government approved the withdrawal agreement. The European Parliament also approved it. The UK then left the EU with an agreement in place.

Countries Where Some People Want to Leave

Some countries have political parties that want to leave the EU. However, as of 2024, no country other than the UK has voted on whether to leave. Most polls show that people in other EU countries generally support staying in the EU, even if they have some concerns.

What About EU Citizenship?

If a country leaves the EU, its citizens might no longer be EU citizens. EU citizenship depends on being a citizen of an EU member country. So, if your country leaves, you might lose your EU citizenship. However, this is a complex topic and has been debated.

Can a Country Be Kicked Out?

While a country can choose to leave the EU, there is no rule that allows the EU to kick a country out. However, if a country consistently breaks the EU's main values, the EU can suspend some of that country's rights.