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The official question catalogue has 14 questions on this topic. In the app you practise them with instant feedback and in the exam simulation.
From the Communities to the Union
On 25 March 1957, six states signed the Treaties of Rome in Rome. The Federal Republic of Germany was one of these six. The others were Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.
The treaties founded the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom). The present-day European Union later developed out of these communities. Germany is therefore regarded as a founding member of the EU. More states joined later.
The term “European integration” describes this process. The European states work together ever more closely in political, economic and legal terms.
Flag, symbols and peace
The EU flag is blue. On it are twelve golden stars in a circle. The twelve stars stand for unity, solidarity and harmony. Their number does not correspond to the number of member states.
A symbol of reconciliation was the meeting in Verdun on 22 September 1984. French President François Mitterrand and Federal Chancellor (Bundeskanzler) Helmut Kohl jointly commemorated the dead of both world wars there. Their joint declaration named peace, reason and cooperation. The unification of Europe was their shared goal.
Parliament, elections and seats
The European Parliament is elected every five years. In the European election, citizens vote for the members of Parliament. The European Commission, by contrast, is not elected directly by the citizens. The members join together in political groups. Each group includes members from many member states.
The Parliament works in three places:
- Strasbourg: the official seat. Most plenary sessions take place there.
- Brussels: this is where the committees and the political groups mainly meet.
- Luxembourg: a large part of the secretariat is based there.
Travel and the euro
In the Schengen Area, there are in principle no regular checks on people at the internal borders. Germans can therefore travel to many European countries without a passport check. Separate rules apply to entering countries outside this area. The Schengen Area and the euro area are not the same thing, however.
From 1999, the euro at first existed only as non-cash money. Euro banknotes and coins were introduced on 1 January 2002. Germany and eleven other countries introduced them together. The European Central Bank is responsible for the euro. It has its seat in Frankfurt am Main. The euro is the common currency of the countries that have introduced it.
The member states today
As of October 2026, the EU has 27 member states. The number can change when states join or leave. The EU has shared institutions, for example the European Parliament and the European Commission. Both help shape the Union's policy.
These 14 questions are in the test
- 173Die Bundesrepublik Deutschland ist ein Gründungsmitglied …
- 221Deutschland ist Mitglied des Schengener Abkommens. Was bedeutet das?
- 224Was bedeutet die Abkürzung EU?
- 226Welche ist die Flagge der Europäischen Union?
- 230Das Europäische Parlament wird regelmäßig gewählt, nämlich alle …
- 231Was bedeutet der Begriff „europäische Integration“?
- 232Wer wird bei der Europawahl gewählt?
- 234Wo ist ein Sitz des Europäischen Parlaments?
- 235Der französische Staatspräsident François Mitterrand und der deutsche Bundeskanzler Helmut Kohl gedenken in Verdun gemeinsam der Toten beider Weltkriege. Welches Ziel der Europäischen Union wird bei diesem Treffen deutlich?
- 236Wie viele Mitgliedstaaten hat die EU heute?
- 2372007 wurde das 50-jährige Jubiläum der „Römischen Verträge“ gefeiert. Was war der Inhalt der Verträge?
- 238An welchen Orten arbeitet das Europäische Parlament?
- 239Durch welche Verträge schloss sich die Bundesrepublik Deutschland mit anderen Staaten zur Europäischen Wirtschaftsgemeinschaft zusammen?
- 240Seit wann bezahlt man in Deutschland mit dem Euro in bar?
Each question with its explanation is on the question pages. You can practise with answers in the app.
SourcesEuropäische Union: Zahlen und Fakten zur EUEuropäische Union: GründungsverträgeEuropäische Union: Reisen in der EUEuropäisches Parlament: Warum pendelt das Parlament zwischen Brüssel und Straßburg?Bundesregierung: Ein Zeichen des Friedens im Geist der Brüderlichkeit
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