Which country is a founding country of the European Union?
A knowledge question from the official lists (theme: Institutions and political system), with its answer explained in English.
On exam day, in French
Quel pays est un pays fondateur de l'Union européenne ?
AL'EspagneSpain
BLe Royaume-UniThe United Kingdom
CLa SuèdeSweden
DL'ItalieItalyCorrect answer
Explanation
Italy is one of the six countries that founded the European Economic Community (CEE) in 1957, with France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. In 1992, the Maastricht Treaty created the European Union.
Why the other answers are wrong
A. Spain — Spain joined in 1986. It is not one of the six founding countries.
B. The United Kingdom — The United Kingdom joined in 1973. It is not one of the six founding countries.
C. Sweden — Sweden joined the European Union in 1995. It is not one of the six founding countries.
French words to remember
Union européenneEuropean Union
pays fondateurfounding country
Communauté économique européenneEuropean Economic Community
« en 1951, la Communauté Européenne du Charbon et de l’Acier (CECA) est créée entre la France, l’Allemagne, l’Italie, la Belgique, les Pays-Bas et le Luxembourg pour partager le charbon et l’acier ;
en 1957, ils fondent la Communauté Économique Européenne (CEE) avec le traité de Rome, pour former un marché commun ;
en 1992, le traité de Maastricht transforme la CEE en Union Européenne (UE) »
« En 1973, 3 nouveaux pays entrent dans la CEE : Danemark, Irlande et Royaume-Uni. »
« En 1986, c’est au tour de l’Espagne et du Portugal. »
« En 1995, l’Autriche, la Finlande et la Suède intègrent l’UE. »
Independent course, not affiliated with the French Ministry of the Interior.The exam itself is only in French. The English explanations are AI translations, checked by an independent chain (translation, review, blind check against the French sources); no human translator has reviewed them yet.