# data[].attributes.body
The European Union, abbreviated EU, is an international political and economic organisation, comprising 27 Member States of Europe. Established as a European Economic Community by the Treaty of Rome of 25 March 1957, is considered a potential superpower, during a long process of European integration.

# data[].attributes.headline
Entry of the United Kingdom into the E.U.

# data[].attributes.subject
Entry of the United Kingdom into the E.U.

# data[].attributes.body
The United Kingdom entered the European Union in the 1970s, precisely on 1 January 1973. The first contacts between Britain and Europe began in the 1960s, when the first steps of this new European body.

# data[].attributes.body
The EU single market, which was completed in 1992 (Treaty of Maastricht), allows the free movement of goods, services, money and people within the EU.

# data[].attributes.body
The Maastricht Treaty of 1992 founded the EU, but it was not put to a referendum. The Euro-sceptical wing of the Conservative Party led a rebellion over the ratification of the treaty and, with the Independence Party of the United Kingdom (UKIP) and the People’s Party campaign, pressured Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron to hold a referendum on the UK’s stay in the European Union, which was held in June 2016.

# data[].attributes.body
Brexit (short for British Exit) is the word used to refer to the United Kingdom’s decision to officially leave the E.U. It was the result of a referendum held in the UK on June 23, 2016 in which more than 30 million people voted (52% leave, 48% remain).  ‘Leavers’ argued that Britain’s participation in the EU was a restrictive element for the country: as one of the EU’s main initiatives is free movement within the Union, they focussed on regaining border control and reclaiming business rights, in their opinion too limited by EU red-tape rules. Another negative aspect were the high membership fees: the leavers insisted on the fact that if the UK separates itself from the EU, these fees can be used to benefit the UK. The opposite side, the proponents of remaining with the EU also focussed on the economic issues. Beside the UK receiving business benefits by being able to participate in the EU single market system, ‘remainers’ believe that being part of a wider community of nations provides economic and cultural strength. Big business tended to be in favour of ‘remaining’ because it allows money, people and goods move more easily around the world.

# data[].attributes.body
Cameron, who had campaigned to stay in the EU, resigned after the result and was succeeded by Theresa May.On 29 March 2017, the UK government formally launched the withdrawal process. In June 2017, May called for general elections, which led to a conservative minority government backed by the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). Withdrawal negotiations between the UK and the EU started at the end of the month.

# data[].attributes.body
The United Kingdom has negotiated the exit from the EU customs union and the single market. This resulted in the November 2018 withdrawal agreement, but the British Parliament voted against ratification three times. The Labour Party wanted any agreement to maintain a customs union, while many Conservatives opposed the financial solution to the agreement. The Liberal Democrats, the Scottish National Party and others sought to reverse Brexit through a proposed second referendum. In March 2019, the British Parliament voted against May to ask the EU to delay Brexit until April, and then October.

# data[].attributes.headline
PRIME MINISTER BORIS JOHNSON AND THE THIRD DELAY OF BREXIT

# data[].attributes.subject
PRIME MINISTER BORIS JOHNSON AND THE THIRD DELAY OF BREXIT

# data[].attributes.body
Having failed to secure her agreement, May resigned as Prime Minister in July and was replaced by Boris Johnson. He tried to replace parts of the agreement and promised to leave the EU within the new deadline. On 17 October 2019, the UK Government and the EU agreed on a revised withdrawal agreement. Parliament approved the agreement, but refused to pass it into law before the deadline of 31 October and forced the government to demand a third delay on Brexit.

# data[].attributes.body
Early general elections were held on 12 December. The Conservatives won a large majority in those elections, with Johnson stating that the UK would leave the EU in early 2020. The Withdrawal Agreement was ratified by the United Kingdom on 23 January and by the EU on 30 January.

# data[].attributes.body
From 12 p.m. of 31st January 2020 the United Kingdom officially ceases to be a Member State of the European Union.

# data[].attributes.body
The withdrawal agreement for the exit of the United Kingdom from the European Union, provided for a transitional period on 31 December 2020 that allows a gradual adaptation to the new situation.
During this period, EU law shall continue to apply to and within the United Kingdom. The transition period is giving administrations, businesses and citizens time to adapt and the EU and the UK will have time to negotiate future relations. Any agreement on future EU-UK relations, if it is to enter into force on 1 January 2021, must be approved by the European Parliament before that date.