http://dx.doi.org/10.17176/20230320-185228-0 https://verfassungsblog.de/50-years-on/ 50 Years On - Divergent Paths of British and Irish Membership of the EU Grogan, Joelle Maher, Imelda eng 2023-03-20 electronic resource text/html ddc:342 brexit EU Membership European Union Ireland United Kingdom Verfassungsblog Verfassungsblog--2366-7044 CC BY-SA 4.0 In 1973 and on the third attempt, Ireland and the United Kingdom (UK) with Denmark acceded to the European Communities, while Norway opted not to join following a referendum. For Ireland and the UK, the half-century since has brought about remarkable social, economic, demographic, political, and legal changes in both states leading to the UK leaving the EU in 2020 and Ireland remaining a Member State. Given the shared anniversary and divergent responses to EU membership in the context of strong (if complex) ties between the two states and a shared common law tradition, a reflection on the 50th anniversary of their accession to what is now the European Union (EU) is timely.