As of July 2021, the United Kingdom is the only former member state to formally undertake the process of withdrawing from the European Union. This began when the government of the United Kingdom triggered Article 50 to begin the UK's withdrawal from the EU on 29 March 2017, following a June 2016 referendum, and the withdrawal was scheduled in law to occur on 29 March 2019. Subsequently, the UK sought, and was granted, a number of Article 50 extensions until 31 January 2020. On 23 January 2020, the Withdrawal agreement was ratified by the Parliament of the United Kingdom, and on 29 January 2020 by the European Parliament. The UK left the EU on 31 January 2020 at 23:00 GMT, ending 47 years of membership.