The UK-EU relationship in retrospect ? And prospect

The Brexit separation between the UK and continental Europe can, in a way, be seen as a continuation of the history of post-war relations across the Channel. While the six founding Member States of the European Communities were in favour of pooling their sovereignty to ensure mutual benefit, the UK chose a different path, reflecting a long-standing preference for free trade rather than political cooperation. Reluctance to anything beyond the free market has been an essential feature of British participation in the European Union.