Leaving the EU was impossible between the Treaty of Maastricht (1991) and the Treaty of Lisbon (2009). So for the majority of the EUs existence, leaving was im

Leaving the EU was impossible between the Treaty of Maastricht (1991) and the Treaty of Lisbon (2009). So for the majority of the EUs existence, leaving was impossible. A country can leave the EU, if the EU decides to allow it. That doesn’t sounds like a voluntary association. That sounds a lot more like an empire/country/protectorate.