So, you're wondering, is England part of European Union territory anymore? Honestly, it's a bit of a head-scratcher if you haven't been glued to the BBC for the last few years.
The short answer is no. England is not in the EU.
But the long answer? That's where it gets kinda messy. People often use "England" and the "UK" like they're the same thing, but when we talk about Brussels and trade deals, those distinctions actually matter. England is one of the four nations that make up the United Kingdom (UK), and since the UK officially walked away from the European Union, England went with it.
The Breakup That Changed Everything
January 31, 2020. That was the day. At 11:00 PM GMT, the UK formally ended its 47-year marriage with the EU. It wasn't just a sudden whim, though.
Remember the 2016 referendum? 52% of voters said "Leave." It took years of arguing, two prime ministers resigning, and enough paperwork to fill the Thames before the exit actually happened. Now, as we're sitting here in 2026, the dust has settled a bit, but the relationship is still... complicated.
England didn't just drift off into the middle of the Atlantic. It's still geographically in Europe. You can't just move a whole island. But politically? It’s a different world.
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Is England Part of European Union Trade Agreements?
This is where the real "expert" knowledge kicks in. Just because England isn't a member state doesn't mean it has zero contact with the EU. Far from it.
The UK (and England by extension) operates under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA). Think of it like a "friends with benefits" deal, but for taxes and fish. It allows for zero-tariff trade on most goods, but it definitely didn't keep the "friction-free" lifestyle everyone loved.
If you're trying to send a package from London to Paris today, you've got customs forms. You've got VAT rules. You've got a lot of headaches that weren't there in 2015.
What about the "Reset"?
By early 2026, the tone has shifted. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has been pushing what he calls a "reset" of the relationship. In fact, just this month, negotiations started on linking the UK and EU carbon emissions trading systems. It’s a small step, but it shows that while England isn't "part" of the EU, it's trying to stand a little closer to the heater.
According to the latest Deloitte Attitudes to Trade Survey (January 2026), about 70% of UK businesses expect the relationship to improve. They aren't asking to rejoin—most don't want the "full alignment" that comes with being a member—but they want the red tape to vanish.
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- Customs: Still a nightmare for small businesses.
- Travel: You need a passport, and soon, you'll need that ETIAS travel authorization (basically a digital entry fee).
- Work: No more "just moving to Berlin" on a whim. You need a visa.
The Northern Ireland Twist
You can't talk about whether is England part of European Union structures without mentioning Northern Ireland. It’s the weird exception. Because of the Windsor Framework, Northern Ireland essentially stays in the EU Single Market for goods to avoid a hard border with the Republic of Ireland.
England doesn't get that luxury. If you make a widget in Birmingham, it’s treated as a "foreign" product the second it hits a port in France.
The Myths People Still Believe
I hear this all the time: "But they still use the Pound, so they were never really in, right?"
Wrong. The UK was a massive player in the EU for decades. They just had "opt-outs." They kept the Pound Sterling instead of the Euro, and they stayed out of the Schengen Area (the no-passport zone).
Another big one? "England left, but Scotland is still in."
Nope. Scotland voted to stay, but because they are part of the UK, they were pulled out too. There’s a lot of local tension there, but legally, the whole UK is out.
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Why It Still Matters in 2026
We are currently in the middle of the 2026 TCA Review. This is a big deal. Article 776 of the original agreement mandated a check-up five years after it started. This is the moment where politicians are trying to fix the "glitches" in the system—things like professional qualifications (making it easier for UK architects or vets to work in Europe) and touring rules for musicians.
If you’re a business owner or a traveler, these technical meetings in Brussels are actually more important than the 2016 vote at this point. They determine if your cheese gets stuck at the border for three days or three minutes.
Practical Steps for Navigating the Post-EU Reality
Whether you're visiting or doing business, the "no" answer to is England part of European Union membership has real-world consequences you need to prep for:
- Check your passport expiry. Don't just look at the date; look at the issue date. The EU won't let you in if your passport is over 10 years old, even if it hasn't expired yet.
- Get your ETIAS ready. Starting soon, you'll need this electronic waiver to enter the EU from the UK. It’s not a visa, but it’s an extra step.
- Mind the "90/180 rule." You can only stay in the EU for 90 days out of any 180-day period. Overstaying is a great way to get banned from the continent.
- Review your supply chain. If you're importing, make sure you have an EORI number. Without it, your goods are going nowhere.
The relationship between England and the EU is shifting from a messy divorce to a cautious, professional partnership. It’s less about "membership" now and more about "alignment." We might not be in the club, but we're definitely still hanging out in the lobby trying to negotiate the price of a drink.
To keep up with the specific changes from the 2026 TCA Review, you should monitor the official UK government "Check How to Import/Export" portals, as rule changes for specific sectors like chemicals and agrifood are expected to be implemented by the end of this year.