United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland became a member of the European Community in 1973, when it left the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). The European Community then transformed itself into the European Union in November 1993. As part of the United Kingdom, the EU contains the UK's overseas territory of Gibraltar. However, the Gibraltarians do not contribute to the EU budget through the British contributions, nor do they participate in the EU's Common Agricultural Policy. They nevertheless receive some subsidies from the Structural Funds .