Abstract:

There is no provision in the various treaties that established the Community and then the European Union for a Member State to withdraw from the Union. Neither is there any provision for a Member State to split into two of more States. Would these new States benefit from the policies and the statutes that applied to the original State? Or would they have to renegotiate their entry to the Union in the manner of a candidate country? Morevoer, it is still possible for the territory of a Member State not to form part of the European Union, as is the case for Greenland, an integral part of Denmark. In any event, it would seem that the break-up of Member States, even if the new States were to adhere to the Union following a similar procedure to that of enlargement, presents more disadvantages than advantages, as much forthe cohesion of Europe as for the future of the new States themselves.

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