"Article 50" redirects here. For the former Eurosceptic political party in the Netherlands, see Article 50 (political party).

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Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union is a part of European Union law that sets out the process by which member states may withdraw from the European Union. It has been extensively debated after the referendum held in the United Kingdom on 23 June 2016 in which 51.9% of those voting favoured the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union.^[1]
Once Article 50 is triggered, there is a two-year time limit to complete negotiations. If negotiations do not result in a ratified agreement, the seceding country and EU would follow World Trade Organisation rules on tariffs.^[2]
This article was used for the first and so far only time by the United Kingdom on 29 March 2017.

Provisions

Article 49A of the Treaty of Lisbon, which came into force on 1 December 2009, introduced for the first time a procedure for a member state to withdraw voluntarily from the EU.^[3] This is specified in Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union, which states that:^[4]

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,