Britain's shock vote to leave the European Union is the culmination of an often troubled relationship over recent decades.
Here are key dates in Britain's ties with the EU:
- August 9, 1961: Britain makes its first formal application to join what was then the European Economic Community (EEC) under Conservative prime minister Harold Macmillan.
- January 14, 1963: France's then-president Charles de Gaulle vetoes the application for the first time. He says "Non" again on November 27, 1967 after Britain reapplied.
- January 1, 1973: Britain finally enters the EEC at the same time as Ireland and Denmark, after De Gaulle has left office.
- June 5, 1975: In a referendum on membership of the EEC, Britain overwhelmingly votes "Yes" , with over 67 percent in favour.
- November 30, 1979: Prime minister Margaret Thatcher demands a rebate on Britain's contribution to the European budget in a speech which became best known for a phrase attributed to her as: "I want my money back!"
- September 20, 1988: Thatcher gives a landmark speech in the Belgian city of Bruges which became a rallying cry among eurosceptics for less European political integration.
- November 22, 1990: Thatcher is forced to resign. Her growing euroscepticism was seen as a contributing factor as many felt it was lowering Britain's influence in Europe. EU Commission chief Jacques Delors, a favourite target of the eurosceptics, is immortalised, shortly before Thatcher's exit, in the tabloid Sun's headline "Up Yours Delors".
- February 7, 1992: The Treaty of Maastricht, which underpinned the next stage of European integration, is signed. Britain secures an opt-out from joining the single European currency.
- July 23, 1993: Prime minister John Major holds a confidence motion in his government over the Maastricht Treaty after serious infighting in his Conservative Party over Europe. He is caught on camera calling eurosceptic ministers plotting against him "bastards".
- April 20, 2004: Labour prime minister Tony Blair, a europhile, announces his intention to hold a referendum on the European constitution. It is never held, after France and Denmark rejected it.
- January 23, 2013: Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron promises a referendum on EU membership if his party wins the next general election.
- May 22, 2014: The anti-EU UK Independence Party tops the polls in European Parliament elections with more than 26 percent of the vote, securing 24 seats.
- May 7, 2015: Cameron's Conservatives win a surprise outright majority in the election, clearing the way for a referendum.
- February 20, 2016: Cameron announces a date for the referendum after negotiating key reforms at a summit in Brussels.
- April 15, 2016: Referendum campaign begins.
- June 23, 2016: Britain votes by 52 percent to 48 percent to quit the European Union dealing a thunderous blow to the 60-year-old bloc. Prime Minister Cameron swiftly announces his resignation as world markets plummet.
Britain’s shock vote to leave the European Union is the culmination of an often troubled relationship over recent decades.
Here are key dates in Britain’s ties with the EU:
– August 9, 1961: Britain makes its first formal application to join what was then the European Economic Community (EEC) under Conservative prime minister Harold Macmillan.
– January 14, 1963: France’s then-president Charles de Gaulle vetoes the application for the first time. He says “Non” again on November 27, 1967 after Britain reapplied.
– January 1, 1973: Britain finally enters the EEC at the same time as Ireland and Denmark, after De Gaulle has left office.
– June 5, 1975: In a referendum on membership of the EEC, Britain overwhelmingly votes “Yes” , with over 67 percent in favour.
– November 30, 1979: Prime minister Margaret Thatcher demands a rebate on Britain’s contribution to the European budget in a speech which became best known for a phrase attributed to her as: “I want my money back!”
– September 20, 1988: Thatcher gives a landmark speech in the Belgian city of Bruges which became a rallying cry among eurosceptics for less European political integration.
– November 22, 1990: Thatcher is forced to resign. Her growing euroscepticism was seen as a contributing factor as many felt it was lowering Britain’s influence in Europe. EU Commission chief Jacques Delors, a favourite target of the eurosceptics, is immortalised, shortly before Thatcher’s exit, in the tabloid Sun’s headline “Up Yours Delors”.
– February 7, 1992: The Treaty of Maastricht, which underpinned the next stage of European integration, is signed. Britain secures an opt-out from joining the single European currency.
– July 23, 1993: Prime minister John Major holds a confidence motion in his government over the Maastricht Treaty after serious infighting in his Conservative Party over Europe. He is caught on camera calling eurosceptic ministers plotting against him “bastards”.
– April 20, 2004: Labour prime minister Tony Blair, a europhile, announces his intention to hold a referendum on the European constitution. It is never held, after France and Denmark rejected it.
– January 23, 2013: Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron promises a referendum on EU membership if his party wins the next general election.
– May 22, 2014: The anti-EU UK Independence Party tops the polls in European Parliament elections with more than 26 percent of the vote, securing 24 seats.
– May 7, 2015: Cameron’s Conservatives win a surprise outright majority in the election, clearing the way for a referendum.
– February 20, 2016: Cameron announces a date for the referendum after negotiating key reforms at a summit in Brussels.
– April 15, 2016: Referendum campaign begins.
– June 23, 2016: Britain votes by 52 percent to 48 percent to quit the European Union dealing a thunderous blow to the 60-year-old bloc. Prime Minister Cameron swiftly announces his resignation as world markets plummet.
