Inför Brexit-mötet: Lobbar för snabb uppgörelse

The United Kingdom European Union membership referendum is scheduled to take place in the UK and Gibraltar before the end of 2017. Membership of the European Union has been a controversial issue in the United Kingdom since the country joined the then European Economic Community in 1973. The European Union Referendum Act 2015 which provides for the referendum was passed by the British Parliament. The Act follows a Conservative Party manifesto commitment to hold such a referendum. It will be the second referendum to be held on EU membership in the UK. It will be only the third plebiscite to be held throughout the United Kingdom and the second time the British electorate has been asked to vote on the issue of European Union Membership, the first being in 1975 when it was then known as the EEC when membership was approved by 67% of voters. The referendum will also be held in and affect the status of Gibraltar, a UK overseas territory. Those in favour of a British withdrawal from the European Union – sometimes referred to as British exit or Brexit – argue that being a member of the EU undermines Parliamentary sovereignty, while those in favour of membership argue that in a world with many levels of supranational organisations any theoretical loss of sovereignty is more than compensated by the benefits membership of the EU. It is argued by those that support Brexit (most British Eurosceptics) that restoration of sovereignty would allow the UK to be better able to control immigration, be in a better positioned to conduct its own trade negotiations, and be free from what they believe to be unnecessary EU regulations and bureaucracy. Those in favour of remaining in the EU argue that leaving the EU would risk the UK's prosperity, diminish its influence over world affairs, and result in trade barriers between the UK and the EU.