WorksheetsWhat is the EU?
Total questions: 20
Worksheet time: 7mins
Following the two devastating world wars in the 20th century that killed millions of people, several European countries decided to work together to ensure that there would be no more bloodshed.
Who were these founding members of the EU?
Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Spain
Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands
Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Denmark
Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Greece
The founding countries decided to share control of their coal and steel industries so that they could not secretly arm themselves against each other. After this, they set about expanding cooperation to other economic sectors.
What was the organisation they created in 1957 called?
The European Economic Community.
The European Coal and Steel Community.
The European Economic and Social Committee.
The European Union.
Soon after the Second World War, Europe was split into east and west. The Berlin Wall, which separated East and West Berlin for almost three decades, was a symbol of this division until its fall in 1989.
Which of these statements is true?
Resistance against communist rule in central and eastern Europe led to the fall of the Berlin Wall.
The reunification of Germany in 1990 brought West Germany into the European Union.
Germany beat Argentina 1-0 in the 1990 football World Cup.
This was a formal enlargement.
The first enlargement of the EU in 1973 brought its membership to nine.
Which were these three new countries?
Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom.
Norway, Denmark and Ireland.
Cyprus, Greece and Spain.
The United Kingdom, Greenland and Denmark.
In the 1970s, three European countries, previously ruled by dictatorships, became democracies and became eligible to apply for EU membership.
Which of these statements is true?
Greece, Spain and Portugal all became members in 1986.
Greece became a member in 1981. Spain and Portugal followed in 1986.
Greece and Spain joined in 1981 and Portugal followed in 1986.
Norway joined.
The fall of the Berlin Wall cleared the way for central and eastern European countries that were previously controlled by the former Soviet Union to reform their systems and join the EU.
Which of these statements is true?
Ten central and eastern European countries joined the EU on 1 May 2004, bringing EU membership to 25.
Eight countries from central and eastern Europe and two Mediterranean islands joined the EU in May 2004.
Ten countries including Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland and Romania joined the EU on 1 May 2004.
Croatia joined on 1 May 2004.
The European flag flies above parliaments, buildings, parks and monuments all over Europe.
What do the 12 golden stars on a blue background represent?
The number of countries that were part of the EU when the flag was designed.
Love.
Unity, solidarity and harmony among the people of Europe.
The circle of knowledge and truth.
Which Member State…
…is one of six monarchies in the European Union; …is known for its Midsummer celebrations; and …joined the European Union in 1995, together with two other countries?
Sweden
Spain
Norway
Switzerland
Which Member State…
…fought a war of independence between 1991 and 1995; …has a coat of arms featuring a red and white checkerboard pattern; …is the latest country to join the European Union?
Romania
Bulgaria
Croatia
Czechia
How many official languages does the EU have?
24
25
23
22
Although there may sometimes be disagreements between EU countries, the basic principles behind the EU have remained unchanged for more than six decades. In 2012, the European Union was recognised for its work in uniting the continent.
Which award did it receive?
Nobel Peace Prize
Sakharov Prize
Eurovision Contest Prize
Jean Monnet Prize
Every year the EU celebrates its birthday on 9 May.
What is the name of the man who, on 9 May 1950, put forward the plan considered to be the beginning of what is now the European Union?
Jean Monnet
Robert Schuman
Winston Churchilll
Konrad Adenauer
The EU treaties govern how decisions are made and in which areas the EU acts jointly.
In which European city was the latest treaty signed?
Rome
Paris
Lisbon
Maastricht
Anna is from Germany, has just finished school and would like to improve her Italian. She enrolls on a two-month crash course at a language school in Italy.
What does she have to do before leaving?
Anna needs to apply for a visa to study in Italy.
Anna needs to apply for a temporary residence permit before going to Italy.
Nothing. She can start packing her suitcase and take off for Italy! As an EU citizen Anna has the right to study in any other EU country.
Anna needs to have a Italian citizenship first.
In Italy, Anna from Germany meets, Pavel, an Erasmus+ student from Czechia. Which of the following is true?
The Erasmus+ programme…
…helps young people to study in their own country.
…is only for university students and does not include other ways of learning.
…provides opportunities for partnerships amongst schools and organisations from other EU countries.
... is for people to fall in love.
Travelling is now much easier in Europe. Most EU countries have taken away their border controls thanks to the Schengen Agreement. Anna is travelling by bus from Italy to Czechia via Austria, and is excited about her trip.
Does Anna need to bring her passport with her during the trip?
No. Austria, Czechia and Italy are among the 22 EU and 4 non-EU countries that have removed internal border controls within the Schengen area. So, in principle, Anna can travel freely across internal borders. (Member States may reintroduce border controls only on a temporary basis, for instance in the event of a threat to internal security).
Yes. Czechia is not a Schengen country, so Anna cannot pass the border without going through the border control.
No, within Europe, you have to show your passport or ID card at the border only when you are travelling to Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
In 2019 Ursula von der Leyen was elected as Commission President by the European Parliament.
She presented her political guidelines with 6 key ambitions for Europe.
Which of the following is NOT one of von der Leyen’s six key ambitions?
To ensure to have the same education in maths, history and English all over Europe.
To get Europe's economy growing and to create more jobs, particularly for young people.
To make sure to have secure, affordable and climate-friendly energy in Europe.
The European Green Deal.
As well as being the capital of Belgium, Brussels is often referred to as the capital of Europe as this is where the main institutions are based.
Which of the following statements is true?
The European Commission decides on all new EU laws and actions.
The European Commission proposes new legislation while the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament make the final decision on all EU laws.
The European Council, made up of presidents and prime ministers of the EU countries, adopts EU laws.
The European Parliament is the voice of the people. It represents the citizens of EU countries in decision-making matters.
Which of these statements is true?
The Members of the European Parliament are appointed by national parliaments.
EU citizens directly elect the Members of the European Parliament every four years.
Countries with large populations have more Members of Parliament (MEPs) than countries with small populations.
European citizens can influence EU policies in a number of ways, for instance by launching or supporting a European citizens’ initiative.
Which of these statements is true?
One million people from at least seven EU countries are needed to launch a European citizens’ initiative.
Any EU citizen can ask the Commission to propose the creation of a law.
There are no minimum age requirements for supporting an initiative.
