Abstract
European Union law explicitly allows Member States to unilaterally withdraw from the EU which corresponds with the fact that the EU is based on international law. On the other hand, the EU is not a classic international organization, it is a supranational institution with distinct federal features, including EU citizenship.
Thus, the process of withdrawal from the EU is complicated and problematic. The author of the paper focuses on problematic aspects of the withdrawal of a Member State from the EU using the example of EU citizenship.
As a result of the withdrawal, nationals of the State in question lose EU citizenship which affects their acquired rights. Nationals of the State in question who are resident in other Member States are in particular affected.
However, the withdrawal also reduces rights of EU citizens who are resident in the State which withdrew from the EU.