House of European History : learn about the EU in 12 steps : secondary school activity sheets : permanent exhibition.
Date: 2017-09-08
Institutions: European Parliament
Subjects: Brussels region, European Union, cultural heritage, history of Europe, museum, teaching materials

HOUSE OF 
EUROPEAN 
HISTORY

Learn about the EU 
in 12 steps

Secondary school 
activity sheets

Permanent  
Exhibition

A project of the European Parliament

1

LEARN ABOUT THE EU IN 12 STEPSHouse of European History
Rue Belliard/Belliardstraat 135
1000 Brussels
Belgium

Opening Hours
Monday 13.00 - 18.00
Tuesday - Friday 9.00 - 18.00
Saturday - Sunday 10.00 - 18.00

The museum is closed on 1 January, 1 May, 1 November, 24, 25, 31 December
Admission is free

www.historia-europa.ep.eu
historia-learning@ep.europa.eu

More information on the European Union is available on the internet (http://europa.eu).

Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2017

Print 
PDF 

ISBN 978-92-823-9310-9 
ISBN 978-92-823-9307-9 

doi:10.2861/83038 
doi:10.2861/65626  

QA-04-16-451-EN-C
QA-04-16-451-EN-N

Image credits:
•  Cantor Arts Centre, Collection Committee for Art Acquisitions Fund, page 7
•  CArCoB asbl, Belgium, page 11
•  Council of Europe, page 7 
•  Estate of Yousuf Karsh, courtesy of NATO, page 13
•  European Union: pages 6, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28, 31 and 33
•  European Union/1974 AP, page 21
•  European Union, 2016/Creator: Pablo Medina Lockhart - ULB - IGEAT, page 20
•  European Union, 2016/Design: ACCIONA Producciones y Diseño, pages 2, 3 and 14
•  Festival Committee of the Cologne Carnival of 1823, page 18
•  Fondation Jean Monnet pour l’Europe, Switzerland, page 8
• 
• 
•  Lihidheb Mohsen, page 29
•  Private collection, Arlon, Belgium, pages 6, 13, 16 and 22
•  Private collection, Germany, page 19
•  Stiftung Haus der Geschichte der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, Bonn/Artist:  Wolfgang Hicks, page 12
•  Stiftung Haus der Geschichte der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, Bonn/Artist: Klaus Pielert: page 17

iStock.com/Alex Belomlinsky, page 15
Jörg Frank, page 30

© European Union, 2017
Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged. For any use or reproduction of photos which 
are not under European Union copyright, permission must be sought directly from the copyright holder(s).

Printed in Italy

PRINTED ON ELEMENTAL CHLORINE-FREE BLEACHED PAPER (ECF)

Today

2016

1948

2002

1985

1979

1950

1954

1957

1975

1962

1963

Today

2016

1948

2002

1985

1979

Learn about the EU  
in 12 steps

1975

1962

1963

1950

1954

1957

INTRODUCTION

Why do we need to learn about the European 
Union (EU)? For your generation, what does the EU 
stand for? How would you like the EU to continue 
developing to be a better place? These questions are 
at the core of this trail.

These activities will lead you through the House 
of European History (HEH) for about 90 minutes. It 
focusses on some specific sections of the museum. 
You are, of course, welcome to explore all sections.

Material required: 1 booklet and 1 tablet for 2 students. 
Students will work in pairs in the museum.

To maximise your visit we 
recommend you break your 
class into two groups of 
roughly equal size led by one 
teacher (15 students max.  
per group). The two groups will 
work independently of each 
other in the museum. 

FIRST GROUP’S ITINERARY

SECOND GROUP’S ITINERARY

3

2

1

6

5

4

3

2

1

0

3

1

2

6

5

4

3

2

1

0

GROUP 1 will go from floor 3 to floor 
4 to floor 5 and finish on floor 6.

GROUP 2 will go from floor 5 to floor 
4 to floor 3 and finish on floor 6.

GROUP 1 will follow the booklet 
from page 5 to page 33.

GROUP 2 will use the booklet 
backwards, from p. 35 to p. 5.

2

LEARN ABOUT THE EU IN 12 STEPSORIENTATION: GROUP 1

0

Follow the numbered signs  
from 0-12 to complete your activities.

When you see this sign: 
go to page 32 to read further 
information about European Union 
Enlargement.

GROUP 1 will start on FLOOR 3

0

GROUP 1 will continue  
on FLOOR 4

1

2

3

4

5

7

6

LEARN ABOUT THE EU IN 12 STEPS

3

Then on FLOOR 5

8

9

10

11

12

GROUP 1 will finish on FLOOR 6

4

LEARN ABOUT THE EU IN 12 STEPS

0

THE SITUATION IN EUROPE 
AFTER WORLD WAR II

As you approach this display case you will be confronted with a 
series of numbers. They refer to different groups of people affected 
by World War II such as refugees, expellees, evacuees, deportees, 
and death camp victims. 

An estimated 60 million people died during the war, nearly two 
thirds of them civilians. Numbers alone, however, fail to convey the 
full extent of the personal tragedies involved or the catastrophic 
impact of these events on various groups. The objects assembled 
here allow us to see the human stories during such terrible times.

Choose one object in this display case and, with the help of the 
tablet, find out:  

Name of the object:

.................................................................................................................................................................

How it is related to the state of things in Europe  
after World War II?

.................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

5

LEARN ABOUT THE EU IN 12 STEPS1

STEP 1 
THE CONGRESS OF EUROPE, 
1948

What was the motto of the people meeting in the  
Congress of Europe? 

.................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

Name three topics discussed during the Congress of Europe and 
prioritise them according to your own opinion:

1. ............................................................................................................................................................                  

2. ............................................................................................................................................................

3. ............................................................................................................................................................

One of these flags is exhibited in a display case. Find it and with  
the help of your tablet, answer this question: how are these  
two flags related to each other? 

.................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

This flag was designed in 1955 for the  
Council of Europe and was adopted by  
the European Community in 1985.

6

LEARN ABOUT THE EU IN 12 STEPSWhy does the EU flag have  
12 yellow stars? 

Arsène Heitz, the designer of the flag, 
was inspired by a Christian story from 
the New Testament in which St. John 
of the Apocalypse had a vision of the 
Virgin Mary: “A woman clothed with the 
sun, the moon under her feet and on her 
head a crown of twelve stars.”  
(XII- 1 Apocalypse). It was the case 
however, that officials were probably not 
aware of this religious symbolism when 
they voted for Heitz’s design in 1955. 

EC or EU? European Community  
or European Union?

Which term should we use? It 
depends on the date. Before the 
Maastricht Treaty in 1993 we talked 
about European Community (EC) and 
after about the European Union (EU).

Can the number of stars change?

No, the stars have nothing to do with 
the number of EU member states.  
12 is often seen as a symbol of 
perfection in the Bible, Jesus had  
12 apostles for instance. On the  
EU flag the stars represent the ideals  
of unity, solidarity and harmony 
among the peoples of Europe.

Did you know?

The Council of Europe 
is an organisation 
established in 1949 to 
promote unity between 
its members. It works 
actively to protect human 
rights and to maintain 
democratic ideas and 
principles. It also plays a 
role to support cultural, 
social and scientific  
co-operation.  
In 2017, it consisted  
of 47 member states.

Albania
Tirana

Estonia
Tallinn

Lithuania
Vilnius

San Marino
San Marino

Council of Europe

47

Member States

Andorra
Andorra-la-Vella

Finland 
Helsinki

Luxembourg
Luxembourg

Serbia
Belgrade

Armenia
Yerevan

France
Paris

Malta
Valletta

Slovakia
Bratislava

Austria
Vienna

Georgia
Tbilisi

Republic of Moldova 
Chişinău

Slovenia
Ljubljana

Canada

Azerbaijan
Baku

Germany
Berlin

Monaco
Monaco

Spain
Madrid

n
o
s
d
u
H

y
a
B

Belgium
Brussels

Greece
Athens

Montenegro 
Podgorica

Sweden
Stockholm

Bosnia and Herzegovina
Sarajevo 

Hungary
Budapest

Netherlands
Amsterdam

Switzerland 
Bern 

Bulgaria
Sofia

Iceland
Reykjavik

Norway
Oslo

Croatia
Zagreb

Ireland
Dublin

Poland
Warsaw

“The former Yugoslav 
Republic of 
Macedonia” -
Skopje  

North Atlantic

Ocean

Cyprus
Nicosia

Italy
Rome

Portugal
Lisbon

Turkey
Ankara

Czech Republic -
Prague

Latvia
Riga

Romania
Bucharest

Ukraine
Kyiv

Denmark
Copenhagen

Liechtenstein
Vaduz

Russian Federation -
Moscow

United Kingdom -
London

Map for illustrative purposes
Carte à caractère illustratif
Designed by Latitude Mapping Ltd – PREMS144515 – September 2015

Azores(Port.)

Madeira
(Port.)

Canary
(Spa.)

Islands

Alaska

Beaufort Sea

E a st   Si berian Sea

Sea of
Okhotsk

Japan
Sea of Japan
hina

C

a
n
i
h
C

a
i
l

o
g
n
o
M

t
n

i
.

e
o
c
.
w
w
w

Greenland

(Den.)

Svalbard
(Nor.)

A r c t i c  O cean

Barents Sea

Jan Mayen
(Nor.)

n
o
i
t
a
r
e
d
e

Russian F

Iceland

The Faeroes
(Den.)

Ireland

United
Kingdom

Finland

Norway

Sweden

North

Denmark

Sea

a
e
S
c 

Balti

Estonia
Latvia
Lithuania
Russia

Belarus

The

Netherlands

Belgium

Germany

Luxembourg

Liechtenstein

Austria

Poland

Czech

Rep.

Slovakia
Hungary

Ukraine
Rep. of
Moldova

Bay of
Biscay

Fr a n c e

Switzerland

Slovenia

San Marino

Croatia
Bosnia 
and 

Portugal

Andorra

Monaco

Italy

Spain

Romania
Bulgaria
Serbia
“the former Yugoslav
Republic of 
Macedonia”
Greece

Albania

Black Sea

Turkey

Kazakhstan
Uzbekistan
Turkmenistan

Caspian  Sea

Georgia
Armenia

Iran

Morocco

A l g e r i a

Tunisia

non-member state of the Council of Europe (Belarus)

Malta

M edi t er r anean  Sea

Libya

Cyprus

Egypt

Syria

Iraq

Lebanon
Israel

Jordan

7

LEARN ABOUT THE EU IN 12 STEPS 
 
 
 
2

STEP 2 
THE EUROPEAN COAL  
AND STEEL COMMUNITY, 
1952

Find this object in the display case and with the help  
of your tablet answer the following question:  
When was this object made? 

.................................................................................................................................................................

What material is it made from? 

.................................................................................................................................................................

Why do you think this material has been chosen?

.................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

8

LEARN ABOUT THE EU IN 12 STEPSFind out, with the help of the tablet, why the word «EUROP» is spelt 
in this manner.

.................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

Why was coal and steel production chosen as a starting point in the 
formation of the European Union in 1952?

.................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

Name the six countries who founded the European Coal and Steel 
Community:

1. ............................................................................................................................................................

2. ............................................................................................................................................................

3. ............................................................................................................................................................

4. ............................................................................................................................................................

5. ............................................................................................................................................................

6. ............................................................................................................................................................

Did you know why May 9th is ‘Europe Day’?

The date marks the anniversary of the Schuman Declaration.  
On 9th May 1950, French foreign minister Robert Schuman 
proposed the creation of a European Coal and Steel Community. 
Schuman’s proposal is considered the birth of what is now the 
European Union.

9

LEARN ABOUT THE EU IN 12 STEPS3

STEP 3 
THE EUROPEAN DEFENCE 
COMMUNITY, 1954

Look at the posters in this section and using your tablet, identify 
the two opposing forces. They are:

1. ............................................................................................................................................................

2. ............................................................................................................................................................

The Cold War made Western Europeans consider whether they 
needed a ‘European army’. Find a poster representing the opinions 
of those people who were in favour of a common defence project.

What object can you see in the poster that might represent the 
need for European unity?

.................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

Which object represents a threat to Western European countries? 

..................................................................................

..................................................................................

..................................................................................

..................................................................................

..................................................................................

..................................................................................

Tips for your classroom:  
to continue this topic,  
find out what is the current 
status of the defence of the 
European Union.

10

LEARN ABOUT THE EU IN 12 STEPSThe poster reads: 

This is the European Army 
Belgium remembers and says no 
Issued by: Communist party  
of Belgium

Look at this poster (it is not in the 
exhibition). It was created by people 
against the European Defence 
Community at the beginning of the 
1950s. To understand this image, you 
need to adopt the point of view of 
a person living in 1950. This person 
and his/her family have experienced 
two wars with Germany. When the re-
armament of West Germany became a 
possibility under a proposed European 
Defence Community, people were 
fearful that war would start again. 
This explains why such an image was 
created.

Find three elements in this image that show their fear of German 
re-armament: 

1. ............................................................................................................................................................

2. ............................................................................................................................................................

3. ............................................................................................................................................................

Find out, with the help of your tablet how the European Defence 
Community project ended: 

.................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

11

LEARN ABOUT THE EU IN 12 STEPS4

STEP 4 
THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC 
COMMUNITY, 1957

Name the four freedoms on which the Common Market was 
founded: 

1. ............................................................................................................................................................

3. ............................................................................................................................................................

2. ............................................................................................................................................................

4. ............................................................................................................................................................

Did you know?

The story of Europa comes from Greek mythology. 
She was the daughter of the King of Phoenicia, 
which is modern day Lebanon. The god Zeus  
fell in love with Europa and turned himself into  
a bull in order to get close to her. After she  
climbed on his back, he carried her away from  
her homeland and brought her to the island  
of Crete.

Find this picture in the exhibition: what were the makers of this 
image trying to represent? 

.................................................................................................................................................................

Name some effects of the Common Market in your daily life.

.................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

12

LEARN ABOUT THE EU IN 12 STEPSHow a banana can endanger a European treaty?

In order to reach an agreement about the launch of the Common 
Market, many compromises were needed from all six countries.  
An example of these compromises concerned bananas! The 
Germans liked South American bananas and wanted to give 
producers there favourable trading terms. The French objected  
to this as they wanted to protect the rights of their banana growers 
in the French Antilles, which is in the Caribbean. For years, this case 
poisoned community relations. 

The Belgian Foreign Minister, Paul-Henri Spaak, who was in charge 
of the negotiations for the Common Market forced the two sides to 
come to an agreement:

«At the end of arguments and patience, I declared that the fighters 
had two hours to find an agreement, otherwise I would call the press 
and inform them it was impossible to make Europe because we did 
not reach agreement on the issue of bananas. Fittingly, I got up and 
left the meeting room. When I returned, two hours later, everything 
was arranged. Europe was saved.»

Extract from: Paul-Henri Spaak, Combats inachevés, 
France, Fayard, 1969, p. 88-89

Common 
Market

Coal and 
Steel

After reading this story, why do you think it was so difficult for 
the six European countries in 1957 to find an agreement about a 
Common Market?

.................................................................................................................................................................

Which countries are represented on this map?

F........................................................................ 

I..................................................................

T....... N.........................................................  L.................................................................

B................................................................  G................................................................

When you look at this map, what has happened to the 

internal borders?

 ..........................................................................................................................

 ..........................................................................................................................

13

LEARN ABOUT THE EU IN 12 STEPS5

STEP 5 
THE FOUNDERS OF  
THE EUROPEAN UNION

1

3

2

4

5

6

7

Find out the names of the 7 EU founders represented here: 

1. ............................................................................................................................................................

2. ............................................................................................................................................................

3. ............................................................................................................................................................

4. ............................................................................................................................................................

5. ............................................................................................................................................................

6. ............................................................................................................................................................

7. ............................................................................................................................................................

Choose one founder and with the help of the tablet find out more 
information about him. 

«I am»:  ................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

14

LEARN ABOUT THE EU IN 12 STEPS“Next to my statue, you will see an object linked to me. How does 
this item reflect my commitment to European unity”?

.................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

?

?

Who would you add to this gallery of EU founders? 

.................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

Why did you select this person?

.................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

15

LEARN ABOUT THE EU IN 12 STEPS6

STEP 6 
THE LAUNCH OF THE 
COMMON AGRICULTURAL 
POLICY (CAP), 1962

With the help of your tablet, find out to 
whom the Common Agricultural Policy 
gave assistance. 

 ............................................................................................

 ............................................................................................

 ............................................................................................

 ............................................................................................

 ............................................................................................

 ............................................................................................

Find this image in the exhibition 
and, with the help of the tablet, 
explain what the wall built around six 
European countries represents: 

 ............................................................................................

 ............................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

16

LEARN ABOUT THE EU IN 12 STEPSFind this image and analyse it:

Beef Mountain

Butter Mountain

Pork  Mountain

«land of plenty,  
land of worries...»

Milk (surplus-)lake 

What is the message of this image? Is it a positive or a negative 
comment on the Common Agricultural Policy?

.................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

17

LEARN ABOUT THE EU IN 12 STEPS7

STEP 7 
THE ÉLYSÉE TREATY, 1963

Name the two countries connected by the Élysée Treaty: 

1. .........................................................................  2. .........................................................................

The Élysée Treaty meant the end of: ..........................................................................         

And the start of: ........................................................................................................................     

Find this object in the display case and fill the right boxes with the 
right number:

1. Cologne Cathedral, 2. Eiffel Tower, 3. French President  
Charles de Gaulle, 4. German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer,  
3. MBZ: Mer blieve Zesamme (We stay together)

This object comes from the  
Carnival Museum of Cologne.  
Every year, the Prince of the Carnival 
wears a medallion like this depicting 
a specific event from the year.  
In 1963, the hug between 
Chancellor Konrad Adenauer and 
President Charles de Gaulle was 
chosen. 

Why do you think such a political event was translated into such an 
object? What does it say about the Élysée Treaty? 

.................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

Find one other object from daily life that was produced to spread 
the news: 

.................................................................................................................................................................

18

LEARN ABOUT THE EU IN 12 STEPSWith the help of the tablet, answer these questions related to the 
photo album: 

It belongs to: ............................................ 

It dates from: ............................................

It represents: .................................................................................................................................

“It was during the 1960s, I was 15 years old. In Berlin, at school, we were 
encouraged to start a correspondence with other young people from  
other European countries. When I started writing to Michel, we soon made 
the plan to meet each other but our parents were saying: “No, it’s too far,  
it’s too expensive, you are too young!” Then in 1963, my mother found   
out about the Franco-German Youth Office who was organising 
transportation and covering the costs to encourage young German  
and French people travelling”

“I was 15 years old and I travelled all alone from Berlin in Germany to 
Évreux in France. It took me 24 hours, one bus and three trains. (To give 
you an idea, today, it would take 10 hours.) Michel and his mother were 
waiting for me at the North train station in Paris.  
He had said to his mother: «If the German is ugly, we go back home  
without her.» (He told me that years later.) I arrived at his house where  

I stayed several weeks”

“As you can see in this picture, I learned French with Michel.  

In the town, I was presented to the people as the ‘German girl’,  
I was a surprise for them. We represented the French-German 
friendship. This experience changed me. I loved France. I wanted  
to dress like the French, have my hair done like the French. Later  
I became a French teacher”.

“Michel? I am still in touch with him today. You know,  
he does not have hair any longer!”

List two reasons why it was important for Marita, from Berlin,  
to meet Michel, from Évreux, in 1963?

1. ........................................................................     2. ........................................................................

What makes contact between young people from different 
countries easier today? Give two different answers.

1. ........................................................................     2. ........................................................................

19

LEARN ABOUT THE EU IN 12 STEPS8

STEP 8 
THE HELSINKI CONFERENCE, 
1975

With the help of your tablet, identify the two themes of the Helsinki 
Conference: 

1. .........................................................................  2. .........................................................................

In 1975, 35 countries, including the United States and the Soviet 
Union met in Helsinki, Finland. The European Community also 
attended the conference and managed to guarantee something 
very important... what was it? 

.................................................................................................................................................................

Why do we need agreements between countries about  
Human rights?

.................................................................................................................................................................

In your opinion, why is it important to fight for  
Human rights today?

.................................................................................................................................................................

20

LEARN ABOUT THE EU IN 12 STEPSLet’s discover together the life and work of a famous 
campaigner (or dissident) who fought against the 
deprivation of human rights - Andreï Sakharov  
(1921-1989). 

Andreï began his carrier in the Soviet Union 
as a nuclear physicist and contributed to the 
development of the Soviet atomic bomb. In the late 
1950s, he began to question the moral and political 
implications of his work: 

«When you see how the shock wave blows away 
buildings like houses of cards... How can you not start 
thinking of your responsibility?”

Sakharov became an important activist for human rights, he wrote 
about the Soviet Union: 

“Our state is similar to a cancer cell – with its (…) authoritarian 
structure of power, with (...) a closed society that does not inform its 
citizens of anything substantial, closed to the outside world, without 
freedom of travel or the exchange of information.”

One year after the Helsinki Conference, a committee for the respect 
of human rights was created in the Soviet Union by a group of 
dissidents (campaigners) in the apartment of Andreï Sakharov. 

Did you know? 

Every year, since 1988,  
the European Parliament 
awards the Sakharov Prize 
for freedom of thought and 
outstanding contributions to 
human rights. 

Tip for your 
classroom: get 
more information 
on the laureates of 
different Sakharov 

Prizes and discuss their 
achievements in your class.

They wanted freedom of expression and the right 
to the truth. In the following years, members of this 
committee were arrested or forced into exile. 

In 1975, Andreï received the Nobel Peace Prize. He 
was not allowed to leave the Soviet Union to get 
his prize. Between 1980 - 1986, he was arrested and 
forced into internal exile.

In the light of this information, how did the Helsinki 
Conference become a tool used by dissidents 
(campaigners) against the deprivation of human 
rights under Soviet control in the 1970s-80s? In your 
opinion, did it work?

 ..............................................................................................................................

 ..............................................................................................................................

 ..............................................................................................................................

21

9

STEP 9 
THE FIRST DIRECT ELECTIONS 
TO THE EUROPEAN 
PARLIAMENT, 1979

This leaflet from 1979 advertises the first direct elections to the 
European Parliament. 

It was a historic occasion as it was the first time that European 
citizens directly voted to elect their representatives at European 
level. The European Parliament was now the first international 
institution elected by universal suffrage, highlighting increased 
democracy within the current European Union.

What is the central message being addressed in the image?

 ...................................................................................................

 ...................................................................................................

 ...................................................................................................

 ...................................................................................................

Who or what was responsible for the 
creation of the image?

 ...................................................................................................

 ...................................................................................................

 ...................................................................................................

 ...................................................................................................

22

LEARN ABOUT THE EU IN 12 STEPSDo you know?

Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) 
represent the diverse interests of 508 million 
Europeans and, every five years, they are 
elected directly by the citizens of their 
country.

Parliament’s work impacts the everyday lives 
of Europeans. That could mean for example: 
the recognition of diplomas and professional 
qualifications; more stringent standards 
for food safety and labelling of products 
in stores; reinforced air and rail passenger 
rights and a host of other things.

Voting in the European elections

62.0%

59.0% 58.4%

56.7%

49.5%

45.5%

43.0% 42.6%

Look at these statistics: 

What was the turnout at the 
European elections in 1979?

 ...................................................................................

1979

1984

1989

1994

1999

2004

2009

2014

EPRS | European Parliamentary Research Service

What was the turnout in 2014?

.................................................................................................................................................................

Why do you think there was a decline of voting over the years?

.................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

If your job was to motivate people to go voting,  
what would you do?

.................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

23

LEARN ABOUT THE EU IN 12 STEPS10

STEP 10 
THE SINGLE MARKET, 1985

With the help of your tablet, find a definition for the European 
Single Market: 

.................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

Europe  
in Daily life

.................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

This poster (which is not in the exhibition) was 
printed in the 1970s-80s to show people where 
objects from their daily life were coming from. 

Name four things from your country that are 
exported to other parts of Europe. 

1.  ......................................................................................................................... 

2.  .........................................................................................................................

3.  .........................................................................................................................

4.  ......................................................................................................................... 

Name two things in your daily life that come from 
other European countries. 

1.  .........................................................................................................................

Origin: ...............................................................................................................

2.  .........................................................................................................................

Origin:  ..............................................................................................................

a wider  
choice

24

LEARN ABOUT THE EU IN 12 STEPSThe building of the European Community had long been dedicated 
to ‘The Europe of the Markets’. In 1985, concrete efforts were made 
to develop ‘The Europe of the Citizens’. Find one example in the 
display case in front of you: 

1. ........................................................................     2. ........................................................................

When you look at the different passports exhibited in this display 
case: Name two elements they have in common: 

1. ........................................................................     2. ........................................................................

Name two elements they don’t have in common: 

1. ........................................................................     2. ........................................................................

Why do you think the European passport is not exactly the same in 
all countries? 

.................................................................................................................................................................

If you had been part of the team responsible for the development 
of «The Europe of the Citizens» what would you have suggested to 
bring the EU institutions closer to European citizens?

.................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

25

LEARN ABOUT THE EU IN 12 STEPS11

STEP 11 
THE ARRIVAL OF THE EURO

Which treaty paved the way for the Euro?

.................................................................................................................................................................

When was it launched?

.................................................................................................................................................................

Find this object. What is it?

..................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................

Finding common symbols and respecting national diversities was 
the task of the designer of the Euro coins. Choose one country and 
describe how its national identity is represented. 

.................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

If you have some Euro coins in your pocket identify which countries 
are represented. 

.................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

26

LEARN ABOUT THE EU IN 12 STEPS1

Go to the display case n°1 on this map, 
which is about the global economic 
crisis, and find the objects explaining 
how the crisis affected European 
economies. 

What have you discovered?

 ............................................................................................

 ............................................................................................

 ............................................................................................

 ............................................................................................

 ............................................................................................

 ............................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

Does a common currency bring Europeans closer together?

.................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

27

LEARN ABOUT THE EU IN 12 STEPS12

STEP 12 
LIVING WITH DIVERSITY

What was the name of the agreement that abolished borders for 
many European countries in 1995?

.................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

Go to display cases n°1, 2 and 3 on this map and list three objects 
showing how mobility became easier within the EU after 1995:

1. ............................................................................................................................................................

2. ............................................................................................................................................................

3. ............................................................................................................................................................

Find the Frontex armband and 
read or listen to the corresponding 
information on the tablet.  
Explain why the image of a Fortress  
is used. 

 ............................................................................................

 ............................................................................................

 ............................................................................................

 ............................................................................................

 ............................................................................................

 ............................................................................................

1

3

2

28

LEARN ABOUT THE EU IN 12 STEPSLook at the object ‘Bottle with 
belongings of a migrant’. Have you 
ever heard the phrase ‘A message in 
a bottle’? What do you think is the 
message of this object?

 ............................................................................................

 ............................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

Can you identify the two very different realities of experiencing 
borders presented in this display case? How would you describe 
them?

.................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

Why do you think the museum curators put these two very 
different realities next to each other? 

Would you have done the same if you worked at the museum?

.................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

29

LEARN ABOUT THE EU IN 12 STEPSEUROPE: 
WORK IN PROGRESS

This section is called ‘Appraisal and Criticism’. Find three reasons 
why the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to the European Union  
in 2012: 

1. ........................................     2.  .............................................     3 . ...............................................

When the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to the European Union, 
what was the point of view of protestors?

.................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

In June 2016, a British referendum decided that the United 
Kingdom should leave the European Union. With the help of the 
tablet, find three reasons for this: 

1. ........................................     2.  .............................................     3 . ...............................................

Find this painting in the exhibition: on what type of document did 
the artist paint? 

.................................................................................................................................................................

 .........................................................................................

What is the message of this painting? 
Do you agree?

 .........................................................................................

 .........................................................................................

 .........................................................................................

 .........................................................................................

30

LEARN ABOUT THE EU IN 12 STEPS0

100

200

300

400 km

0

100

200

300 mi

Your turn: write your motto across this 
map of Europe. 

For the generations born during the 
20th century, the need of a supra-
national structure like the EU was 
associated with an urgent need of 
ensuring «no more war». 

Now that you’ve discovered some of 
the steps that led to the formation of 
the EU, how would you like the EU to continue developing to be a 
better place?

.................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

Human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, and respect for 
human rights. These are Europe’s core values. What else would you 
like to add to this list? 

.................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

What could you do to make it a reality?

.................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

31

LEARN ABOUT THE EU IN 12 STEPSEUROPEAN UNION 
ENLARGEMENT IN 
PERSPECTIVE

Creation of the European Coal and Steel Community: 1952  
(floor four)

Six countries – Belgium, France, the Federal Republic of Germany, 
Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands – agreed, and created  
the European Coal and Steel Community in 1952.

First European Community Enlargement: 1973 (floor four)

In 1973 the six members of the original EEC became 9 when  
Great Britain, Denmark and Ireland joined. The people of Norway, 
also a candidate country, voted against membership in a 
referendum held the preceding year.

It was third time lucky for Great Britain as France had refused  
its entry on two previous occasions. The European Community,  
as it was now widely described, was not only the largest trading 
area in the world but an increasingly diverse mix of cultures, 
languages and traditions

Second and third European Community Enlargement:  
The Southern Enlargement, 80s (floor five)

European Community membership jumped from 9 to 12 with  

the joining of Greece in 1981 and Spain and Portugal 
in 1986. All three countries had recently overcome 
authoritarian regimes where citizens’ freedoms had 
been strictly controlled.

These nations now had a European umbrella to 
preserve their new democratic institutions and to 
modernise their societies and economies. Some 
of the 9 ‘old’ EC Member States, however, had 
concerns about the finances required to upgrade the 
underdeveloped rural regions of these newcomers. 

EC or EU?  
European Community  
or European Union?

Which term should we use? It 
depends on the date. Before 
the Maastricht Treaty in 1993 
we talked about European 
Community (EC) and after 
about the European Union  
(EU). 

32

LEARN ABOUT THE EU IN 12 STEPSDid you know? 

In 1990, the reunification 
of East and West Germany 
brought East Germany 
(formally German Democratic 
Republic) into the European 
Community.

EU enlargement accelerates: 1995-2013 (floor five)

The number of Member States more than doubled 
following the end of the Cold War. Sweden, Finland 
and Austria joined in 1995, followed by 10 countries 
in 2004. Romania and Bulgaria joined in 2007, and 
Croatia in 2013.

This enlargement now means that EU decisions must 
be negotiated and agreed upon by an ever growing 
number of partners from diverse backgrounds and 
interests.

ÍSLAND

NORWAY

SWEDEN

IRELAND
IRELAND

DENMARK
DENMARK

UNITED KINGDOM
UNITED KINGDOM

NETHERLANDS
NETHERLANDS

BELGIUM
BELGIUM

LUXEMBOURG
LUXEMBOURG

GERMANY

CZECH
 REPUBLIC

FRANCE

SWITZERLAND

1952
1973
1981
1986
1995
2004
2007
2013

* The former 
  Yugoslav Republic 
  of Macedonia

RUSSIA

FINLAND

ESTONIA
ESTONIA

LATVIA
LATVIA

LITHUANIA
LITHUANIA
RUSSIA

BELARUS

POLAND

UKRAINE

MOLDOVA

ROMANIA

SLOVAKIA
SLOVAKIA

AUSTRIA
AUSTRIA

SLOVENIA
SLOVENIA

HUNGARY
HUNGARY

CROATIA
CROATIA

BOSNIA AND
HERZEGOVINA

SERBIA

MONTENEGRO

BULGARIA
BULGARIA

KOSOVO
FYROM*

ALBANIA

GREECE
GREECE

TÜRKİYE

MALTAMALTA

CYPRUS
CYPRUS

33

PORTUGAL
PORTUGAL

SPAIN

ITALY
ITALY

LEARN ABOUT THE EU IN 12 STEPSORIENTATION: GROUP 2

12

Follow the 
numbered signs from 
12 to 0 to complete 
your activities.

When you see 

this sign: go to page 
32 European Union 
Enlargement in 
perspective and read 
the section related 
to it.

GROUP 2 will continue 
on FLOOR 4

GROUP 2 will start on FLOOR 5  
and start with step 12

8

9

10

11

12

1

2

3

4

5

7

6

34

LEARN ABOUT THE EU IN 12 STEPS

Then on FLOOR 3

0

GROUP 2 will finish on FLOOR 6

LEARN ABOUT THE EU IN 12 STEPS

35

Q
A
-
0
4
-
1
6
-
4
5
1
-
E
N
N

-