LONDON - The curtain comes down on Britain's membership of the European Union on January 31 after more than three and a half years of disagreements and delays.
Here are the milestones in the rocky process.
- Leave wins -
In a referendum on June 23, 2016 that followed decades of arguments over Europe, Britons vote by 52 percent to 48 percent to become the first nation to leave the EU bloc.
Conservative leader David Cameron, who led the campaign to remain in the EU and called the vote expecting to win, resigns as prime minister the next day. He is replaced by Theresa May, the interior minister who also backed remaining.
- Divorce process triggered -
Divorce is set for Friday, January 31 at 2300 GMT, which is 11:00 pm in Britain.
An extendable transition period, during which much in the relationship will not change, has been agreed up to December 31, 2020. More tough talks on the future EU-UK partnership are expected by then. (AFP)