Understanding Brexit: Events that led the UK to a Brexit impass

Once upon a time an island country entered the European Community. It was the United Kingdom, in 1973. Two years later Britons confirmed they wanted to stay, but in 2016 they expressed their wish to quit.

For decades, the UK has shared common policies in areas like trade and regulation, but it never embraced the euro or the open borders of the Schengen Area. Now with the Brexit, the UK aims to leave completely the European Union.

It all started in 2013, when Conservative David Cameron promised an “in-out” referendum, shoring up support from anti-EU voters for his reelection as prime minister.

Cameron won the election in 2015. A year later, he called for a referendum backing the remain campaign.