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ARTICLE · 24 MARCH 2016

Should I Stay Or Should I Go Now?

Wedlake Bell LLP
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In 1951, following the signature of the Treaty of Paris by France, Italy, West Germany (as was), Belguim, The Netherlands and Luxembourg, the European Coal and Steel Community was thereby created.

United KingdomGovernment, Public Sector
Wedlake Bell
Wedlake Bell

If I go there will be trouble
And if I stay it could be double
So you gotta let me know...

(with apologies to Joe Strummer and Mick Jones)

The EU: historical background

In 1951, following the signature of the Treaty of Paris by France, Italy, West Germany (as was), Belguim, The Netherlands and Luxembourg, the European Coal and Steel Community was thereby created. An international organisation based on 'supranationalism' and international law, it was designed to help the economy of Europe and prevent future war by integrating its members. (Source: Wikipedia.) The UK joined what had become known as the EEC in 1973, and our first referendum on continued membership took place as early as 1975. The only two countries to have left the Community are Algeria (in 1962, upon gaining independence from France) and Greenland (in 1985, following its own referendum on the subject).

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