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dc1975 | iStock/Getty Images Plus | Getty Images The U.K. has spoken: It has decided to end its relationship with the European Union. What the country decided in its June 23 referendum is

crucial for the country and the EU — especially, as experts have suggested, a Brexit may encourage other EU members to hold their own referendums. CNBC takes a look at the U.K.'s

roller-coaster relationship with Europe. —_By CNBC's Alexandra Gibbs._ 1957: EUROPEAN COUNTRIES UNITE, BRITAIN EYES ENTRY The signing of the Treaty of Rome in 1957. Eric Vandeville |

Gamma-Rapho | Getty Images When the European Economic Community (EEC) was established in 1957 — there were only six members: France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.

The EEC was set up to create stronger economic ties, following the death and destruction seen during World War II; with Winston Churchill calling for a "kind of United States of

Europe" in 1946. The community's aim was to create a common market, where goods, services and people could move around with greater ease. 1961-1967: FRANCE VETOES UK ENTRY French

President Charles de Gaulle speaking in Paris about Britain's entry into the Common Market, 28th November 1967. Reg Lancaster/Daily Express | Hulton Archive | Getty Images During 1961,

the U.K., Ireland, and Denmark all applied to join the EEC. However, in January 1963, French president Charles de Gaulle expressed his country's concerns over the implications of a U.K.

membership especially as it had close ties to the U.S. Within a matter of days, countries who'd submitted applications had their EEC negotiations suspended. De Gaulle said he would

veto Britain's entry again when it re-applied in 1967; however, the country's application gained momentum after de Gaulle resigned as President in 1969. 1973: BRITAIN MAKES ITS EU

DEBUT On January 1, 1973, the English read of t U.K.'s entry into the European Economic Community. Keystone-France | Gamma-Keystone | Getty Images The European Economic Community

welcomed three new members to it group: Ireland, Denmark and the United Kingdom; bringing its total up to nine. 1975: BRITS HOLD REFERENDUM ON EEC MEMBERSHIP Conservative Party Leader,

Margaret Thatcher lends support to 'Keep Britain in Europe' campaigners in London, on 4th June 1975. P. Floyd/Daily Express | Hulton Archive | Getty Images Labour leader Harold

Wilson followed up on his election pledge and renegotiated the U.K.'s terms of membership in the EEC, putting the outcome to a referendum. On June 5, 1975, the U.K. voted to remain in

the EEC, with around 67 percent in favour of staying. 1984: UK WINS A REBATE European Summit in Fontainebleau (June 25-26, 1984) during an agriculture-budget crisis. Keystone-France |

Gamma-Keystone | Getty Images In 1984, Britain successfully negotiated a budget rebate with the EEC, after Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher threatened to halt payments. At the time, the U.K

was set to become the budget's biggest net contributor—largely due to available access of farming subsidies—despite being one of the poorest members, according to the U.K.

parliament's website. In 2005, the country agreed to let go of some of its rebate, to help finance the EU's enlargement plans. 1979-2002: THE UK KEEPS THE POUND Anti-Euro protester

holds placard aloft outside the British Houses of Parliament - June 9, 2003 in London, England. Scott Barbour | Getty Images News | Getty Images In 1979, the European Monetary System and

its exchange rate mechanism (ERM) were introduced in the hope of achieving currency and exchange rate stability in Europe. Britain opted out of the ERM, but briefly joined in the early

1990s, only to unceremoniously leave it during the Black Wednesday currency crisis in 1992. In 1992, the Maastricht Treaty was signed, highlighting how the bloc had grown from focusing

solely on economic policy, to one that covered many topics. The treaty marked the name change and replacement of the EEC to the "European Union", while setting out rules for the

EU's future currency: the euro. The euro officially launched in 1999, and by 2002, 12 members had adopted the currency when coins and notes entered circulation. The U.K. opted out. 2007

ONWARDS: FINANCIAL CRISIS STRIKES EUROPE People queue to withdraw their savings at a Cypus Popular Bank ATM, while newspapers bear titles about the Cypriot crisis. Louisa Gouliamaki | AFP |

Getty Images When the global financial crisis surfaced, many European countries who'd borrowed heavily for years were hit badly. The countries hurt most by the crisis received

financial support from the IMF, European Central Bank and other EU countries. 2013: THE BRITS MUST “HAVE THEIR SAY” UK Prime Minister David Cameron delivers long-awaited speech on the

UK's relationship with the EU on January 23, 2013 Oli Scarff | Getty Images News | Getty Images In January 2013, Prime Minister David Cameron said if the Conservatives won the 2015

election, the government would work hard to renegotiate the country's membership with the EU, giving citizens a referendum to decide whether they wanted to remain in the bloc. 2015: A

REFERENDUM BILL IS UNVEILED Queen Elizabeth II delivers her speech to the House of Lords on May 27, 2015 Alastair Grant/WPA Pool | Getty Images News | Getty Images On May 27, 2015, Queen

Elizabeth II set in motion the policies and proposed legislation set out by the new Conservative government, including the European Union Referendum Bill. 2016: A DATE IS ANNOUNCED.

REFERENDUM CAMPAIGNS ENSUE Getty Images: Ben Stansall/Jeff J Mitchell | AFP/Getty Images News In mid-February, David Cameron managed to negotiate a reform deal with EU leaders on areas

including competitiveness, financial protection, migration and the referendum, which had its date officially set that week as June 23, 2016. From then on, the political rhetoric from both

campaigns intensified and on April 15, Britain's official 10-week EU Referendum campaign kicked off. JUNE 23, 2016: JUDGEMENT DAY FOR THE UK Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron

his wife Samantha walk back into 10 Downing Street after he spoke about Britain voting to leave the European Union, in London, Britain June 24, 2016. Stefan Wermuth | Reuters After the polls

closed and the votes were tallied, on June 24, 2016, the U.K. announced that it had voted to leave the European Union. Results of the votes from the U.K. referendum on its EU membership

showed 51 percent voted to leave the European Union. Prime Minister David Cameron, who pushed for the UK to remain part of Europe, announced his resignation.