Brexit lessons from Greenland and Venezuela

The possibility of the UK exiting the EU is taking centre stage in UK politics following the return of a Conservative majority in the 2015 election.

Contingency planning should be a normal part of government work, and should therefore also be part of the planning of the upcoming EU referendum.

Precedents for the UK’s scenario include, first, following its achievement of autonomy from Denmark in 1979, Greenland negotiated its withdrawal from the then European Communities.

Second, and also less widely known, Venezuela withdrew from the Andean Community in 2006 to later join the South American trading bloc Mercosur.

These scenarios provide close parallels to the UK situation. By exploring how Greenland and Venezuela achieved these exits the UK can learn how to avoid too many negative consequences.

• Primary Source

ESO: In Focus: Brexit - The United Kingdom and the European Union http://www.europeansources.info/record/brexit-the-united-kingdom-and-the-european-union/

EurActiv, 15.06.16: As UK moves to leave EU, Greenland might come knocking http://www.euractiv.com/section/enlargement/news/as-uk-moves-towards-the-door-greenland-might-come-knocking/

Politico, 22.06.16: Greenland’s exit warning to Britain http://www.politico.eu/article/greenland-exit-warning-to-britain-brexit-eu-referendum-europe-vote-news-denmark/

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