Brexit was the withdrawal of the United Kingdom (UK) from the European Union (EU) at 23:00 GMT on 31 January 2020. The UK is the first and so far only sovereign country to have left the EU, after 47 years of having been a member state of the bloc â the EU and its predecessor the European Communities (EC) including the European Economic Community â since 1 January 1973. Under the terms of the Brexit withdrawal agreement, Northern Ireland continues to participate in the European Single Market in relation to goods, and to be a
de facto member of the EU Customs Union.