TIMELINE Referendum called. The British public is promised a vote on the future of the UK in the EU

JANUARY 1 1973

Britain joins the European Economic Community (ECC)

JUNE 6 1975

Britain votes to stay in the European Community after a nationwide referendum

JANUARY 1 1993

Single European Act passes to transform the common market into a single market offering free movement of goods, service, people and capital

NOVEMBER 1 1993

Maastricht Treaty. The ECC is absorbed into the European Union as we know it today

JANUARY 1 1999

Adoption of pan-European currency, the euro

FEBRUARY 20 2016

JUNE 23 2016

Referendum results. Britain went to the polls and 51.89 per cent of the public voted to leave, with 48.11 per cent wishing to remain

MARCH 29 2017

British prime minister Theresa May triggered Article 50 of the Treaty on the European Union, putting the UK on course to leave the EU within two years

JUNE 19 2017

Negotiations begin. Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief negotiator, meets David Davis, the UK Brexit secretary, for formal talks in Brussels

OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2017

Divorce principles agreed. If negotiations stay on track, discussions will move on to looking at future relationship

OCTOBER 2018

Mr Barnier’s deadline to agree a deal. Mr Barnier said he wants talks expedited to allow ratification of the deal

MARCH 2019

Article 50 deadline. Ratification by EU member states, the European Council and the European Parliament must have taken place. The UK parliament is also due to vote on the deal before it takes effect. It may be possible to extend talks but this must be agreed by all parties

APRIL 2019

UK should be separated from the EU