How long has the UK been in the European Union?

Answer 1

Britain joined the forerunner of the EU, the European Economic Community (EEC), in 1973. Two previous applications to join were vetoed by France in 1962 and 1967. Britain had the opportunity to be a founder member, but in 1955 the British representative at the conference in Messina that laid the foundations for the EEC, one Bretherton, left early and declared: 'Nothing will come of the talks and if anything does come out of them it will be a disaster'. By 1961 the British government was hollering and begging for admission. This is sometimes referred to as the Bretherton Syndrome.

Answer 2

The UK has been in the European Union since 1973. As of 2016, that is 43 years.

Answer 3

What is now known as the European Union was founded in 1957.