The Republic of Ireland is a member state of the European Union while the United Kingdom is a former member state, having the two acceded to its precursor entity, the European Economic Community (EEC), in 1973 but the Uk remaining the European Union in 2020 soon after a referendum on EU membership was held in 2016 which resulted in 51.9% of Uk voters picking out to go away the bloc. Bienstock, Richard (April 11, 2016).