As the UK contemplates Brexit, test your European Union knowledge with our quiz.

European trivia – how much do you know?

Question 1: Which country in the EU has the largest population?

a. Italy

b. France

c. Germany

d. United Kingdom

 

Question 2: Which 6 countries founded the European Economic Community in 1957?

a. Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands & UK

b. Belgium, France, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands & West-Germany

c. Belgium, France, Italy, the Netherlands, West-Germany & Ireland

d. Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands & West-Germany

 

Question 3: The Danube is one of the main rivers of Europe. Which countries of the European Union does it run through?

a. Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Croatia, Hungary, Romania & Bulgaria

b. Germany, Austria, Serbia, Hungary, Romania & Bulgaria

c. Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Croatia, Hungary, Romania & Bulgaria

d. Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania & Ukraine

 

Question 4: When did the countries on the Iberian peninsula (Spain and Portugal) join the European Union?

a. 1976

b. 1966

c. 1996

d. 1986

 

Question 5: How many EU members share a border with Italy, one of the founding members?

a. 3

b. 2

c. 1

d. 4

 

Question 6: There are four island nations which are members of the European Union. They are Great Britain, Ireland, Cyprus and which other island?

 

Question 7: The Greeks gained EU membership before the Danes.

a. True

b. False

 

Have a think about it and then read on …

 

ANSWERS

Question 1: Which country in the EU has the largest population?

Answer: c. Germany

Germany has a population of 82 million; France 66 million; UK 65 million; and Italy 60 million

 

 

Question 2: Which 6 countries founded the European Economic Community in 1957?

Answer: d. Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands & West-Germany

In 1957 the Treaty of Rome was passed by its six founding members creating the European Economic Community: Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands & West-Germany. In 1948 Belgium, the Netherlands & Luxembourg had entered a political union (Benelux) that formed a model for the EEC. In 1993 with the passing of the Maastricht Treaty, the EEC was incorporated and renamed as the European Community (EC).

In 1961, Denmark, Ireland, Norway and the United Kingdom all applied to join the EEC but the French President Charles de Gaulle vetoed their entry, seeing their entry as a Trojan horse for American interests. After his death, Ireland and the UK became members of the EU in 1973.

 

 

Question 3: The Danube is one of the main rivers of Europe. Which countries of the European Union does it run through?

Answer: a. Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Croatia, Hungary, Romania & Bulgaria

The Danube runs through nine countries but be mindful that Serbia and Ukraine are not EU members.

 

 

Question 4: When did the countries on the Iberian peninsula join the European Union?

Answer: d. 1986

After General Franco died in Spain in 1975 and the dictatorship of Salazar ended in Portugal in 1970, the process of reintroducing true democracy in the two Iberian countries began. In 1986 both countries joined the EU increasing it from 10 countries to 12.

 

 

Question 5: How many EU members share a border with Italy, one of the founding members?

Answer: a. 3

To the west of Italy is France, to the north is Austria (remember Switzerland is not in the EU) and to the west of Italy is Slovenia.

 

Question 6: There are four island nations which are members of the European Union. They are Great Britain, Ireland, Cyprus and which other island?

Answer: Malta

The other island state is Malta which is technically comprised of 8 islands (Malta, Gozo, Comino, Manoel Island, Cominotto, Filfla, Fungus Rock and Saint Paul’s Island, but only the first 3 are inhabited). Malta gained independence from the UK in 1969 and joined the EU in 2004 along with Cyprus.

 

 

Question 7: The Greeks gained EU membership before the Danes.

Answer: False

Greece joined the EU in 1981 while Denmark joined earlier in 1973 (along with the UK and Ireland). In 1979 Denmark granted home rule to its territory Greenland which left the EU after a referendum in 1985. Similarly, in 1985 Algeria left the EU upon gaining its independence in 1962 from France.

In 1975 the United Kingdom held a national referendum on whether to withdraw from the European Economic Community – 67.2% of UK voters chose to remain in the EEC.

 

 

We hope you enjoyed our European Union Trivia – we always aim to make finance more interesting for our clients.

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