Lessons for Brexit negotiations from 60 years of Britain and Euratom

The miscalculation politicians have always made in negotiating European treaties is that we'll be welcomed with open arms. Time for a history lesson

Until recently, few of us were familiar with the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom), the international organisation that governs many aspects of nuclear energy activity in member states. Brexit, and the rapidly retracted "leak" that Britain may seek "associate membership" of Euratom has suddenly brought Euratom to the fore. The precise legal situation regarding the UK's continued membership of Euratom is contested, but there is much to learn from the history of this relationship: over the past six decades the UK has attempted to become an associate member or full member of Euratom five times.