An advocate of anti-federalism within the European Union, often mistrustful of the European project, staying out of many common projects, such as the euro and Schengen, the UK does take part however in the Union that it joined in 1973 in the undeniable role of the European State that it is, since its prosperity increasingly depends on the economy of continental Europe. It does not disfavour close cooperation programmes either, such as those decided upon with France in the area of Defence. The history of the UK is marked by fights to counter royal absolutism, the rift with Rome under King Henry VIII in the 16th century and in the 18th and 19th centuries the industrial revolution and the construction of the biggest colonial empire in the world. The UK voted for leaving the EU on 23rd June 2016