The European Union (EU) has become an important part of the world’s political landscape, with the membership of 28 countries. However, it wasn’t always that way – some countries, for various economic and political reasons, have opted to leave the EU before the United Kingdom decided to do so with the Brexit project in 2016. This topic will examine the countries that have left the EU and their reasons for doing so.

Algeria, 1961 

Algeria was the first state to leave the EU, before it even formally existed. Following the Algerian War of Independence against the French colonial rule, Algeria declared independence in 1962 and ceased to be a member of the French-led European Economic Community, which would later become the EU.

Iceland, 1985 

Iceland’s accession to the European Economic Community took place in 1972, enabling it to take part in the European Steel and Coal Community, which represented a major event in the development and unity of Europe. However, due to the slow progress of negotiations on fisheries and a lack of enthusiastic public support, Iceland withdrew its application for full EU membership in 1985 amid a national referendum.

Groenland, 1985 

As part of the Kingdom of Denmark, Greenland joined the European Economic Community along with Denmark in 1973. In 1982, Greenland voted in a referendum to leave the EEC after fisheries policies decided by the EU heavily restricted Greenlandic fishing in the waters around the island. Although the referendum succeeded, it took three years for EU membership to be completely ended in 1985.

Albania, 2000 

Albania applied for full EU membership in 1996, but its application was rejected after objections from Greece because of their unresolved dispute concerning the borders of northern Epirus (an area located in on the Greek-Albanian border). By 2000, Albania had abandoned its applications to join the EU and instead opted for a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with the EU, which grants more limited access to the EU’s benefits and financial aid.

Portugal, 1982 

Portugal’s involvement with the European Union dates back to the 1970s when it officially joined the EEC in 1986. However, only a few years later, in 1982, Portugal officially left the EU and imposed restrictions on capital outflow, as well as exchange rate and trade controls in an effort to combat economic instability and slow economic growth.

Suriname, 1975 

Suriname was officially a member of the European Economic Community from 1962–1975. However in 1975, Suriname achieved independence from the Dutch and, due to its low-income status, it was not eligible to continue its membership with the EEC.

United Kingdom, 2020 

The United Kingdom became a member of the European Union when the Treaty of Rome was signed in 1957. The UK was the most recent country to leave the EU. In 2016, the UK narrowly voted in a referendum to leave the EU and after years of negotiations and delays, formally left in 2020.

The EU is comprised of 28 member states but not all of them have been part of it since the beginning. Algeria, Iceland, Greenland, Albania, Portugal, and Suriname are some of the countries that opted to leave the EU, for various economic and political reasons. The UK is the most recent country to have left the EU, in 2020, after voting in favour in a referendum in 2016.