On June 23, a British referendum decided, 51.9 to 48.1 percent, to leave the European Union. With such a divided result, reactions to the outcome have been everything from confident victory speeches to depressed resignation to fury. Yet with 72.2 percent of voters turning out, and no rules dictating a certain margin needed to win, this democratic process and vote would seem to be binding. Once David Cameron steps down by October and his successor steps in, the couple years of negotiations and talks will begin to disentangle regulations, border and trade agreements, interdependent institutions and Union obligations. While the Lisbon Treaty does provide a way to voluntarily leave the EU, it has never been tested before, and the months and years ahead will undoubtedly bring with them much uncertainty and divisive debate. While Britain will certainly have a lot to figure out in regards to what it keeps and rejects from the past 60 years of integration, and the possibility of a second Scottish independence referendum, the rest of the European Union has much to respond to as well.

Say what you will about questions of regulation and sovereignty. The European Union and its many predecessor organizations, stretching back to the European Coal and Steel Community (1951), have been integral in furthering peace on the continent and its member nations' role on the world stage. While not a founding member, the United Kingdom has been an integral member for decades and has added to the organization's economic stability and international legitimacy. From the United States' perspective, it has been an important link between the Union and NATO, US and European interests, especially during the decades France was outside NATO's Integrated Command Structure. With Britain now set to leave the European Union in the coming years, the supranational organization would be foolish not to reassess itself, its policies and public persona.

While many have tried to point to a supposed ignorance on the part of Leave voters to explain the referendum result, that doesn't change the simple majority, for better or worse. 17,410,742 people were responding to a disconnect they felt from the large supranational organization, making their voices heard in a way they felt they hadn't previously. Whether a portion of that vote derived from an attempt to preserve tradition and nationalist ways, or from a self-imposed lack of engagement with the EU's institutions, it doesn't matter. If the European Union can't adequately present itself to the general populace as an institution trying to serve the best interests of its members, then something needs to change. The Union has always had a problem presenting itself as a fully democratic institution, its parliamentary elections attracting poor turnouts, and inefficiency plaguing such a massive representative organ. In conjunction with the continuing economic troubles in some members, and ineffectual and divided solutions to the refugee crisis, it is not entirely surprising (though still distressing) that the British public voted Leave.

Brexit spells years of uncertainty not only for the UK, but also for the EU and many other international actors. Britain has been an important pillar of stability and growth within the supranational organization, and its future as a non-member nation is currently completely up for debate. While it is unlikely that most European politicians will take a punitive position to discourage future referendums (as that would have negative effects on the block as well) definite moves need to be made in order to secure the future of the EU. As the populace of many member nations grow weary of economic troubles and perceived threats from refugees, scapegoats will become increasingly popular. With the Leave vote in the UK, the EU needs to look for new ways to address areas of discontent. Whether the lead is taken by the European Council, Commission, or debates in the Parliament, confidence needs to be returned to the organization. The European Union has been a point of hope and prosperity for many for decades, but if current issues aren't addressed via further integration, policy changes or a switch in presentation, its future stands to be even more uncertain than Britain's.