UK withdrawal from the European Union: Legal and procedural issues

In-Depth Analysis 27-03-2017

Following the United Kingdom's referendum in June 2016, which delivered a majority vote in favour of the country leaving the European Union, a period of uncertainty has begun for both the UK and the EU. Although the process of withdrawing from the EU is outlined by Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union, a number of issues remain unclear in practice, all the more so since there is no precedent of a Member State withdrawing from the Union. This in-depth analysis considers the legal and procedural issues surrounding UK withdrawal, focusing in particular on the formal exit process under Article 50 TEU and the EU institutions' preparations for negotiations. It also sets out some possible templates for future EU-UK relations, as well as the details of existing frameworks for cooperation between the EU and third countries.