Implications of the referendum on EU membership for the UK’s role in the world

The forthcoming referendum on membership of the EU offers the UK a once-in-a generation opportunity to assess its role in the world today, and to decide how it wants to organise its relations with European and global partners in the future. Like the electorate as a whole, the Foreign Affairs Committee is divided on the question of Britain’s EU membership. We see this division as an opportunity to provide an informed and balanced analysis, expressing both sides of the argument. Accordingly, we do not endorse either “remain” or “leave” in this report.

Voters will attach different weight to different factors and different probability to the risks and opportunities outlined in this report. Whatever the outcome, there will be a clearer path for the United Kingdom to follow.