Resumen de Leaving the EU?

Stephen Wall

• This essay provides a detailed historical account of United Kingdom’s accession and participation in the EU. Full awareness of the historical events and dynamics is crucial to understand the forces agitating the current debate. In particular, through an exploration of the key steps that led the United Kingdom to accede the EEC and the dynamics of its participation ever since, the main finding that emerges is that the United Kingdom joined the EEC reluctantly, and that this attitude has crucially continued ever since. It is thus fair to say that the United Kingdom, at heart, never wanted to join the European Communities and, at heart, never stopped hankering after a world where it would be safe for it to leave. This ambivalence does not prevent, however, from highlighting a few strong reasons that militate in favour of staying in.