Withdrawal from the European Union facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Article 50 is a rule in the Treaty on European Union (TEU). It explains how a country can leave the European Union (EU) if it wants to. A country must follow its own laws to decide to leave.

The United Kingdom (UK) is the only country that has left the EU so far. This process started when the UK government officially used Article 50 on March 29, 2017. This happened after people in the UK voted to leave in a referendum in June 2016. The UK officially left the EU on January 31, 2020, after being a member for 47 years.

Some areas connected to EU countries have also left the EU. These include French Algeria (in 1962, when it became independent), Greenland (in 1985, after a vote), Saint Pierre and Miquelon (also in 1985), and Saint Barthélemy (in 2012). These last three became special "Overseas Countries and Territories" of the EU.

What is Article 50?

Before Article 50, there was no clear rule about how a country could leave the EU. This made it tricky if a country wanted to go. Some people thought countries could always leave because they are independent. Others thought that since the EU treaties were meant to last forever and aimed for a "closer union," leaving wasn't allowed.

Article 50 was created to make the process clear. It was first written by a British diplomat named Lord Kerr of Kinlochard. This rule was added to the Treaty of Lisbon, which became law in 2009.

How a Country Leaves the EU

Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union explains the steps for a country to leave the EU. It was added to the EU rules 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) that it wants to leave.
The EU then works with the leaving country to agree on how they will separate. This agreement also looks at what their relationship will be like in the future.
This agreement needs to be approved by the Council of the European Union (ministers from EU countries) and the European Parliament.
The country officially leaves either when the agreement starts or, if there's no agreement, two years after they first said they wanted to leave. This two-year period can be made longer if everyone agrees.
When the EU leaders or ministers discuss the leaving country, the representative from that country does not take part in the talks or decisions.
If a country that has left wants to rejoin the EU later, it has to follow the same rules as any new country wanting to join.

This rule does not cover some overseas areas. Their status can be changed more easily without needing a full new treaty.

Starting the Process

Once a country tells the European Council it wants to leave, a period of talks begins. During these talks, they try to agree on how the country will leave and what its future relationship with the EU 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 can leave even if no agreement is reached. This is because the country decides to leave "in accordance with its own constitutional requirements," and the EU rules stop applying after two years, whether there's a deal or not.

Talking About the Exit

The EU rules stop applying to the leaving country when the exit agreement begins. If there's no agreement, the rules stop applying two years after the country said it wanted to leave. This two-year time can be extended if all EU countries agree.

The European Commission (the EU's executive body) handles the talks 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 be. The Council of the European Union must approve the agreement by a special vote, and the European Parliament must also agree. For the agreement to pass, at least 72% of the remaining EU countries, representing at least 65% of their population, must approve it.

If a country that has left wants to rejoin the EU, it must apply like any other new country.

What if There's No Deal?

Article 50 is designed for a planned exit, not a sudden one. This is because leaving the EU is very complex, as many EU laws are part of each country's own laws. However, the process also means the EU cannot stop a country from leaving.

If the talks don't lead to an agreement, the country leaves without one. In this case, EU laws stop applying to that country without any special arrangements. For trade, the countries would likely follow World Trade Organization rules, which include 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, but before it actually leaves. However, the European Court of Justice (the EU's highest court) ruled on December 10, 2018, that a country can change its mind and stop the leaving process on its own. This is allowed as long as the country hasn't already left and the decision to change its mind follows its own democratic rules.

Some people, like Lord Kerr (who wrote Article 50), agree that it's possible to reverse the decision. However, the European Commission believes that Article 50 does not allow a country to simply take back its notice to leave on its own.

If a country wants to extend the two-year period for talks, all other EU countries must agree.

If a country actually leaves the EU and then wants to rejoin later, it has to apply like any other new country. It would need to negotiate a new agreement to join, and every EU country would have to approve it.

Overseas Regions

Some overseas areas connected to France, the Netherlands, and Denmark can change their status more easily. This means they can switch between being an "outermost region" (where EU law fully applies) and an "overseas country or territory" (where EU law mostly does not apply). This change can happen if the country asks the European Council.

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 that was not an EU member. Most of these areas were not fully part of the EU but were associated with it.

Some current territories have 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. Later, in 1976, Algeria and the European Communities made a special agreement. This agreement made Algeria a neighboring country associated with the Community, not a part of it.

Greenland

Greenland chose to leave the EU's predecessor, the European Communities, but stayed part of Denmark. When Denmark joined in 1973, Greenland, as a part of Denmark, joined too. But after Greenland gained more self-rule in 1979, it held a new vote in 1982 and decided to leave. After talks about fishing rights, Greenland left in 1985. It still has a special link 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. Its leaders wanted a different status with the EU because it is far away, small, and relies on tourism. They felt some EU rules were hard to apply there. So, France asked the European Council to change Saint Barthélemy's status to an "overseas country or territory" associated with the EU. This change happened on January 1, 2012.

Member States

United Kingdom

The UK officially left the EU on January 31, 2020. This followed a public vote in June 2016 where people voted to leave. The UK then had a transition period to work out a trade deal with the EU.

The British government, led by David Cameron, held a vote in 2016. The people voted to leave the EU by a small difference. On March 29, 2017, Prime Minister Theresa May officially used Article 50 by sending a letter to the EU. The UK stopped being an EU member on February 1, 2020, at 00:00 Central European Time.

After a new election in December 2019, Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government approved the agreement for leaving the EU. The European Parliament also approved it on January 29, 2020. The UK then left the EU on January 31, 2020, at 23:00 London time, with an agreement in place.

Countries That Want to Leave

Some countries have political parties that want to leave the EU. However, as of August 2025, the UK is the only country that has voted to leave. Studies show that no other country is likely to leave the EU soon.

Bulgaria

In Bulgaria, the Revival party wants to either change Bulgaria's status within the EU or leave it. Other smaller parties also support leaving.

Czech Republic

In the Czech Republic, the Freedom and Direct Democracy party is against the country being part of the EU.

Denmark

In Denmark, the New Right party is against Denmark being in the EU. The Danish People's Party also generally opposes EU membership. The Red Green Alliance officially opposes EU membership, but its members have different views.

Most polls show that Danes support staying in the EU, but they are often careful about giving the EU too much power.

Finland

In Finland, the Finns Party says the country should leave the EU if it becomes a "European Federation," which is not currently planned.

France

The National Rally party in France used to want to leave the EU. However, its leader, Marine Le Pen, has changed this policy. Now, they want to focus on changing how the EU works from the inside. Other parties, like the Popular Republican Union and The Patriots, still support France leaving the EU.

Greece

In Greece, the Greek Solution party wants the country to leave the EU.

Hungary

In Hungary, the Our Homeland Movement is the only party that has suggested holding a vote for Hungary to leave the EU.

Italy

In July 2020, a new political party called Italexit was formed in Italy. Its main goal is for Italy to leave the European Union.

Netherlands

In the Netherlands, the main party that wants to leave the EU is Forum for Democracy. The Party for Freedom also supports leaving.

Poland

In Poland, the Confederation Liberty and Independence party is against the country being a member of the European Union.

Romania

In Romania, the small Noua Dreaptă party is against Romania being in the EU. The Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) also has some members who are careful about the EU, but it's not clear if they support leaving.

Sweden

In Sweden, the Alternative for Sweden is the biggest party that supports Sweden leaving the European Union.

What if a Country Breaks Up?

There are no clear rules if an EU country splits into two or more new countries. It's not clear if one part would stay in the EU and the other would have to rejoin, or if both would keep their membership.

For example, if Scotland became independent from the UK, the European Commission said it would be seen as a new country. This new country would have to apply to rejoin the EU. However, EU experts also suggested that special arrangements could be made to speed up the process.

EU Citizenship After Leaving

Being a citizen of the EU depends on being a citizen of an EU country. If a country leaves the EU, its citizens might no longer be EU citizens. However, this is still debated. It's likely that without special agreements, people from a country that leaves the EU would lose their EU citizenship.

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, there is a rule (Article 7) that allows the EU to stop some rights of a member country if it keeps breaking the EU's main values.