How the EU works

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.

EU debate: does Brussels employ fewer bureaucrats than Derbyshire?

It's roughly correct that the European Union employs the same number of people as Derbyshire County Council, although it depends on who you count.

Ask Full Fact: quick answers to your questions

We've provided sources and answers to some more of your EU questions.

Ask Full Fact: How long would leaving the EU take?

Ask Full Fact: How long will it take to leave the EU and how many new treaties is it likely to take?

Ask Full Fact: did we vote for the EU in the 1975 referendum?

The 1975 referendum on the UK's membership of the European Community wasn't presented as just a trade agreement.

False claims about false claims about the EU referendum

Accusations of "completely untrue" claims on the membership fee, Turkey joining the EU, and an EU army aren't completely true.

The hunt for an EU army

The EU doesn't have an army, and doesn't look like getting one. It encourages military co-operation, and at least a few politicians support EU armed forces.

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.

What would Brexit mean for criminal justice?

Criminal law expert J.R. Spencer explains how the EU affects criminal justice in the UK, and how leaving the EU might change things.

Renegotiating "ever closer union"

Dropping our EU treaty commitment to "ever closer union" - as David Cameron says he wants to do - may have a political impact, but no direct legal effect.

Is Turkey likely to join the EU?

The dispute over Cyprus, human rights concerns and political opposition mean that candidate country Turkey isn't likely to join the EU any time soon.

The Great Intelligence Squared Brexit debate, factchecked

We checked the panel's claims on the EU budget, immigration and how laws are made.

Vote Leave "facts" leaflet: expansion

Factchecking the Vote Leave "facts" leaflet

EU facts behind the claims: regulation and the single market

In partnership with experts at the UK in a Changing Europe project, we've taken a look at the facts behind the claims on the cost of EU regulation.

EU facts behind the claims: 'Brussels bureaucrats'

In partnership with experts at the UK in a Changing Europe project, we've taken a look at the facts behind the claims on the European Commission.

How the EU works: who runs the EU?

Professor Paul Craig explains how the EU is run and how decisions are taken.

How the EU works: the EU’s powers

We asked leading expert Professor Derrick Wyatt QC to explain the powers that the EU has, and the limits on those powers.

How the EU works: which countries are in the EU?

This series of articles answers the most popular Google searches about the EU referendum on 23 June.