How the EU works

Do MEPs get to vote for the new President of the European Commission?

Brexit Party MEP Richard Tice said MEPs did not get to vote on nominees to four key EU positions. MEPs will get to vote to approve one of them.

Was the new President of the European Commission democratically elected?

We checked a Facebook post which exaggerates the powers of the proposed new President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.

Polish pensions are not directly subsidised by the UK

As of 2018, the most common retirement age for men and women in the EU was 65. In some countries, women can retire as early as 60.

This post about EU budget contributions is misleading

We don’t yet know what the EU budget will look like in 2022.

The UK can’t be forced to leave the EU or to join the euro

Political pressure to join the euro is all the UK might face.

The UK won’t have to adopt the Euro by 2020

Even if the UK is still in the EU next year, the Lisbon treaty does not force it to adopt the Euro. The UK has an opt-out from this.

EU member countries don’t all have to join the Euro by 2020

The UK and Denmark both have opt-outs and seven other countries only have to join once they’ve fulfilled certain requirements.

UK taxpayers aren’t subsidising France’s 35-hour working week

The EU budget is not spent on subsidising the French or German working week, or transport and utilities systems.

Can Spain really veto the withdrawal bill?

This article is part of our Ask Full Fact series on Brexit, answering your questions about Brexit and the latest negotiations between the UK and the EU.

Three things you might want to know about the government’s preparations for a No Deal Brexit

How could your driving license, mobile roaming fees, and GDPR rules be affected?

This claim about the UK's EU contribution is correct, but meaningless

Since 2000 the UK has made a net contribution to the EU of £122 billion in today’s money.

The UK is one of the biggest contributors to the EU budget

The UK has been the third or fourth largest contributing country to the EU budget in recent years.

Do EU rules prevent safer lorries?

Lorry design specifications are set by the EU, but the UK initially opposed its plans to allow safer lorries on the road.

How the EU works: what is the customs union?

The customs union simplifies trade between its members, but it doesn’t mean by itself that border checks are removed.

Is the EU’s budget ‘signed off’ by auditors?

It’s often argued both that the EU’s budget hasn’t been signed off by the auditors for years, and that it’s consistently given a clean bill of health.

The Foreign Secretary and the UK Statistics Authority: £350 million explained

The Foreign Secretary and the UK's statistics watchdog have clashed over an inaccurate claim that the UK is set to take back control of £350 million a week.

£350 million EU claim "a clear misuse of official statistics"

After we leave the EU, we cannot take back control of £350 million a week.

How many countries are in the EU?

Maps to guide you through a sea of acronyms.

Leaving the EU without Article 50

Pulling out of the European Union without triggering Article 50 would be illegal.

Article 50: a two-year limit

A two-year clock starts ticking as soon as the UK gives notice under Article 50 that it’s leaving the EU.

EU accounts ‘signed off’ but subject to errors

The issue of the EU's accounts rears its head again.

Who can veto a Brexit deal?

Individual countries won’t be able to veto an EU-UK deal on how it leaves the bloc, but could block a deal on future trade if they don’t like it.

How the EU works: leaving the EU

Professor Steve Peers explains the legal dimension of leaving the European Union. The UK would notify the European Council after a leave vote, triggering negotiations.