Withdrawal from the European Union

Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union provides for a mechanism for the voluntary and unilateral withdrawal of a country from the European Union (EU).

An EU Member State wishing to withdraw must notify the European Council of its intention to do so. The European Council is then required to provide guidelines for the conclusion of an agreement setting out the arrangements for that country’s withdrawal.

This agreement is concluded on behalf of the EU by the Council of the European Union, acting by qualified majority, having obtained the European Parliament’s consent.

The EU treaties cease to apply to the country in question from the date of entry into force of the agreement, or 2 years after the notification of the withdrawal. The European Council may decide to extend that period.

Any country that has withdrawn from the EU may apply to rejoin. It would be required to go through the accession procedure.

SEE ALSO

• Accession criteria (Copenhagen criteria)
• Council of the European Union
• European Council
• European Parliament
• European Union
• Member States
• Qualified majority
• Treaties
• Treaty on European Union (TEU) (summary)
• Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) (summary).