Divorcing the European Union: It's All About Article 50 (Full Text)

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Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May leaves 10 Downing Street in London, March 29, 2017, the day she invoked Article 50 of the Treaty of European Union. Stefan Wermuth/reuters

On March 29 2017, British prime minister Theresa May took the first formal step toward Britain leaving the European Union by invoking Article 50 of the 1992 Maastricht Treaty on European Union. Two years of negotiations about the future relationship of the UK to the EU will now begin following the procedures laid down in Article 50.

Here is the full text:

Article 50

1. Any Member State may decide to withdraw from the Union in accordance with its own constitutional requirements.

2. A Member State which decides to withdraw shall notify the European Council of its intention. In the light of the guidelines provided by the European Council, the Union shall negotiate and conclude an agreement with that State, setting out the arrangements for its withdrawal, taking account of the framework for its future relationship with the Union. That agreement shall be negotiated in accordance with Article 218(3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. It shall be concluded on behalf of the Union by the Council, acting by a qualified majority, after obtaining the consent of the European Parliament.

3. The Treaties shall cease to apply to the State in question from the date of entry into force of the withdrawal agreement or, failing that, two years after the notification referred to in paragraph 2, unless the European Council, in agreement with the Member State concerned, unanimously decides to extend this period.

4. For the purposes of paragraphs 2 and 3, the member of the European Council or of the Council representing the withdrawing Member State shall not participate in the discussions of the European Council or Council or in decisions concerning it.

A qualified majority shall be defined in accordance with Article 238(3)(b) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.

5. If a State which has withdrawn from the Union asks to rejoin, its request shall be subject to the procedure referred to in Article 49.

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