1. What year was the European Union (EU) officially formed?
a) 1951
b) 1957
c) 1993
d) 2000
Answer: c) 1993
Explanation: The European Union was formally established by the Maastricht Treaty in 1993, although its origins go back to earlier agreements like the Treaty of Rome (1957).
2. Which treaty established the European Economic Community (EEC)?
a) Treaty of Paris
b) Treaty of Maastricht
c) Treaty of Rome
d) Treaty of Versailles
Answer: c) Treaty of Rome
Explanation: The Treaty of Rome, signed in 1957, established the European Economic Community (EEC), which later evolved into the European Union.
3. Which countries were the founding members of the European Union?
a) Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg
b) Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, Greece
c) Germany, United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands
d) France, Italy, Belgium, Portugal, Netherlands, Greece
Answer: a) Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg
Explanation: The six founding members of the EU (then the EEC) were Germany, France, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg, which signed the Treaty of Rome in 1957.
4. What was the original purpose of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC)?
a) To promote free trade
b) To create a common currency
c) To regulate the coal and steel industries and prevent war
d) To develop common agricultural policies
Answer: c) To regulate the coal and steel industries and prevent war
Explanation: The ECSC was established in 1951 to regulate coal and steel production, aiming to prevent future wars in Europe, particularly between Germany and France.
5. Which treaty established the European Union in 1993?
a) Treaty of Rome
b) Maastricht Treaty
c) Treaty of Lisbon
d) Treaty of Amsterdam
Answer: b) Maastricht Treaty
Explanation: The Maastricht Treaty, signed in 1991 and entered into force in 1993, officially created the European Union and introduced the idea of a single European currency.
6. What currency was introduced in the European Union in 1999?
a) European Dollar
b) Euro
c) ECU
d) European Pound
Answer: b) Euro
Explanation: The Euro was introduced in 1999 for electronic transactions, and the physical Euro banknotes and coins were introduced in 2002.
7. Which country was the first to leave the European Union?
a) France
b) United Kingdom
c) Greece
d) Denmark
Answer: b) United Kingdom
Explanation: The United Kingdom became the first country to leave the European Union following the Brexit referendum in 2016, officially departing in January 2020.
8. Which institution is responsible for drafting EU legislation?
a) European Council
b) European Parliament
c) European Commission
d) European Central Bank
Answer: c) European Commission
Explanation: The European Commission is responsible for proposing new legislation, while the European Parliament and Council of the EU play roles in debating and approving the laws.
9. What does the term “Brexit” refer to?
a) The unification of Britain with France
b) The financial crisis in the UK in 2008
c) The United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union
d) The expansion of the European Union to the East
Answer: c) The United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union
Explanation: “Brexit” is a portmanteau of “British exit,” referring to the United Kingdom’s decision to leave the European Union following a 2016 referendum.
10. Which of the following countries is NOT a member of the European Union?
a) Norway
b) Austria
c) Spain
d) Sweden
Answer: a) Norway
Explanation: Norway is not a member of the European Union, although it is part of the European Economic Area (EEA) and participates in the EU’s single market.
11. Which of these agreements led to the free movement of people in the EU?
a) Schengen Agreement
b) Maastricht Treaty
c) Lisbon Treaty
d) Rome Treaty
Answer: a) Schengen Agreement
Explanation: The Schengen Agreement, signed in 1985, abolished border controls between participating European countries, allowing for the free movement of people within the Schengen Area.
12. Which was the last country to join the European Union?
a) Bulgaria
b) Croatia
c) Romania
d) Poland
Answer: b) Croatia
Explanation: Croatia joined the European Union on July 1, 2013, making it the most recent member state to accede to the Union.
13. What is the European Economic Area (EEA)?
a) A group of countries with a common currency
b) A single market with the EU and non-EU countries
c) A union of European banks
d) A group of countries that share a common language
Answer: b) A single market with the EU and non-EU countries
Explanation: The European Economic Area (EEA) allows EU and non-EU countries like Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein to participate in the EU’s single market.
14. What is the main function of the European Parliament?
a) To control the European Central Bank
b) To draft new treaties
c) To approve or reject proposed EU laws
d) To decide the EU’s foreign policy
Answer: c) To approve or reject proposed EU laws
Explanation: The European Parliament debates and votes on proposed legislation, which the European Commission drafts.
15. What is the main goal of the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)?
a) To provide financial assistance to developing countries
b) To regulate agriculture and promote food safety within the EU
c) To promote free trade among European countries
d) To protect European farmers from foreign competition
Answer: b) To regulate agriculture and promote food safety within the EU
Explanation: The CAP aims to ensure that European agriculture is efficient, sustainable, and produces safe, high-quality food.
16. What was the role of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) in the EU formation?
a) It was a military alliance that eventually led to the EU
b) It laid the groundwork for economic cooperation between member states
c) It focused on technological innovation
d) It was a trade union for European workers
Answer: b) It laid the groundwork for economic cooperation between member states
Explanation: The ECSC, formed in 1951, marked the beginning of European integration, focusing on coal and steel industries to prevent war.
17. Which of these countries is NOT part of the Eurozone?
a) Greece
b) Ireland
c) Norway
d) Finland
Answer: c) Norway
Explanation: Norway is not part of the Eurozone and continues to use the Norwegian krone as its currency.
18. Which treaty established the Euro as the official currency of the EU?
a) Maastricht Treaty
b) Lisbon Treaty
c) Treaty of Amsterdam
d) Treaty of Rome
Answer: a) Maastricht Treaty
Explanation: The Maastricht Treaty (1991) introduced the Euro as the future common currency for EU member states.
19. Which of these countries is a member of the European Union, but not the Schengen Area?
a) Ireland
b) Sweden
c) France
d) Spain
Answer: a) Ireland
Explanation: Ireland is an EU member, but it is not part of the Schengen Area and continues to maintain border controls with other Schengen countries.
20. Which major crisis led to the reformation of the European Union in the early 1990s?
a) The Balkan Wars
b) The Fall of the Berlin Wall
c) The Cold War
d) The Oil Crisis
Answer: b) The Fall of the Berlin Wall
Explanation: The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the collapse of the Soviet Union prompted the EU to reassess its structure and consider eastward expansion.
21. Which country was the first to adopt the Euro currency?
a) France
b) Italy
c) Germany
d) Portugal
Answer: c) Germany
Explanation: Germany was among the first EU countries to adopt the Euro as its currency in 2002.
22. Which is the highest decision-making body in the EU?
a) European Council
b) European Parliament
c) European Central Bank
d) European Commission
Answer: a) European Council
Explanation: The European Council sets the EU’s overall political direction and priorities, composed of the heads of state or government of the member states.
23. Which was the first EU enlargement after the founding six countries?
a) Spain and Portugal
b) Austria, Finland, and Sweden
c) United Kingdom, Ireland, and Denmark
d) Poland, Czech Republic, and Hungary
Answer: c) United Kingdom, Ireland, and Denmark
Explanation: The United Kingdom, Ireland, and Denmark joined the EU in the first enlargement of 1973.
24. What year did the European Union win the Nobel Peace Prize?
a) 2000
b) 2005
c) 2012
d) 1995
Answer: c) 2012
Explanation: The EU was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2012 for over six decades of contributing to the advancement of peace and reconciliation in Europe.
25. Which country’s application to join the EU was famously rejected in 2004?
a) Turkey
b) Iceland
c) Norway
d) Ukraine
Answer: a) Turkey
Explanation: Turkey’s application for EU membership has been a long-standing issue, and its accession talks have been stalled over political and human rights concerns.
26. Which EU member is not a part of the Common Market?
a) Sweden
b) Iceland
c) Norway
d) United Kingdom
Answer: d) United Kingdom
Explanation: The United Kingdom was a member of the EU but did not fully participate in the single market after its Brexit decision.
27. Which of these institutions was created to support the EU’s financial policy?
a) European Investment Bank
b) European Court of Justice
c) European Council
d) European Bank for Reconstruction
Answer: a) European Investment Bank
Explanation: The European Investment Bank (EIB) was established to promote EU investment projects and support the economic stability of member states.
28. Which event significantly impacted the EU’s integration in the early 2000s?
a) The 9/11 Attacks
b) The EU Constitutional Crisis
c) The Financial Crisis of 2008
d) The Greek Debt Crisis
Answer: c) The Financial Crisis of 2008
Explanation: The 2008 financial crisis put the EU’s financial systems under stress and led to significant economic reforms.
29. Which of the following is NOT a goal of the European Union?
a) Achieving economic integration
b) Promoting European cultural identity
c) Creating a common foreign policy
d) Promoting democracy worldwide
Answer: d) Promoting democracy worldwide
Explanation: While the EU promotes democracy within its borders, its focus is not on promoting democracy worldwide.
30. Which treaty is regarded as the foundation of the European Union’s legal system?
a) Treaty of Lisbon
b) Treaty of Rome
c) Maastricht Treaty
d) Treaty of Paris
Answer: b) Treaty of Rome
Explanation: The Treaty of Rome, signed in 1957, is considered the foundation of the EU’s legal framework and economic structure.
