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EXIT OF
BRITAIN FROM
EUROPEAN
UNION
AGENDA
BREXIT – AN OVERVIEW
HISTORY OF GREAT BRITAIN AND
EUROPEAN UNION
BREXIT – AN OVERVIEW 3
INTRODCUTION
BREXIT stands for Britain’s withdrawal from the European
Union. The United Kingdom opted to leave the European Union
in a closely fought referendum (Scotland and Northern Ireland
voted in favour of remain in Brexit referendum whereas
England and Wales voted for opting out, however, the overall
population (52%) favoured Brexit).
EUROPEAN UNION
It is a political and economic union of 27
member states that are located primarily in
Europe. Maastricht Treaty (or Treaty on
European Union) that entered into force in
1993 led to the creation of EU. It paved the way
for the creation of a single European currency,
Euro as well as European Central Bank. It
granted EU citizenship to every person with
citizenship of a member state The EU has
developed an internal single market through a
standardized system of laws that apply in all
member states, Within the Schengen Area,
passport controls have been abolished. Although
the United Kingdom became in 2020 the only
member state to leave the EU, several further
countries are aspiring or negotiating to join it..
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• The government of the United Kingdom triggering Article 50 of the Lisbon treaty to begin the UK’s
withdrawal from the EU in March 2017 following a referendum, and the withdrawal was scheduled in law to
occur on 29 March, 2019. Subsequently, the UK sought, and was granted, a further Article 50 extension until
January 31, 2020 on account of British Parliament rejection of withdrawal agreement prepared by the then
Prime Minister Theresa May which led to the fear that UK is on a path towards a no deal Brexit (also called as
Hard Brexit). In the event of No Deal BREXIT, the UK would sever all ties with the EU with immediate
effect, with no transition period and no guarantee on citizens’ rights of residence. The UK government fears
that this would cause significant disruption to the businesses in the short term.
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