Given below are two statements, one is labelled as Assertion (A) and other as Reason (R). Read these statement

Question

Q. Given below are two statements, one is labelled as Assertion (A) and other as Reason (R). Read these statements and choose the correct answer from the given below options : Assertion (A) : The European Union has its own flag, anthem, founding date and currency. Reason (R) : The European Union has a major influence on the economic, political and military fields in the contemporary world. Options : (A) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of the Assertion (A). (B) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of the Assertion (A). (C) Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true. (D) Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.

CBSECBSE Class XII Board 2026MCQ· 1mImportance★★★★★

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Concept understanding — European Integration History

Imagine you and your neighbours decide to stop locking your doors, agree to use the same currency, and promise to settle arguments in a common court instead of fighting. That, in essence, is the story of European integration — a remarkable experiment in which once-warring nations chose to bind their economies and laws so tightly that war between them became unthinkable.

The core idea: from coal to community

European integration is the process by which European countries, especially after World War II, voluntarily pooled their sovereignty — their right to make independent decisions — in key areas. The goal was simple but radical: make national interests overlap so completely that conflict would be too costly to contemplate.

The NCERT Class 12 Political Science textbook (Contemporary World Politics) introduces this as the story of the European Union, but the roots go deeper. The founding insight came from French statesman Jean Monnet and Foreign Minister Robert Schuman. They proposed that instead of punishing Germany after the war, Europe should integrate its coal and steel industries — the very materials needed to build weapons. If France and Germany shared control over these resources, neither could secretly arm against the other.

Note

The European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) , formed in 1951 by six countries (France, West Germany, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg), is the true birth of European integration. It was not a free trade area — it was a supranational authority with power over member states' industries.

The logic: why give up control?

A commerce or humanities student might ask: why would any country voluntarily surrender decision-making power? The answer lies in a shift from zero-sum thinking to positive-sum thinking.

In a zero-sum world, one country's gain is another's loss. European integration proposed that by sharing sovereignty, all could gain more together than alone. A small country like Belgium could never match Germany's economic weight — but inside a union, it had equal voting rights and access to a huge market. Germany, in turn, got peaceful neighbours and a stable export market.

The NCERT textbook highlights three key motivations:

Peace: Prevent another world war by making economies interdependent
Prosperity: Create a single market larger than the US, boosting trade and growth
Power: As a bloc, Europe could stand alongside the US and the Soviet Union during the Cold War

The journey: from six to twenty-seven

Integration did not happen overnight. It unfolded in stages, each building on the last:

1957 — The Treaty of Rome created the European Economic Community (EEC) , removing tariffs between members and establishing common policies for agriculture and trade.

1986 — The Single European Act set a deadline for a truly unified market by 1992, where goods, services, people, and capital could move freely — the "four freedoms."

1992 — The Maastricht Treaty formally created the European Union and laid the groundwork for a single currency, the euro, which launched in 1999 (physical notes and coins in 2002).

2004 onward — The EU expanded eastward, taking in former communist countries like Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic, reuniting a continent divided by the Cold War.

Important

The EU is not a federation like the United States, nor is it merely an international organisation like the UN. It is sui generis — a unique hybrid. Member states retain their own armies, foreign policies, and tax systems, but they have surrendered control over trade, competition law, and (for eurozone members) monetary policy to Brussels. …

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Both the assertion that the European Union has its own flag, anthem, founding date, and currency, and the reason that it has major global influence, are true statements. However, the symbols and currency are not the direct explanation for its global influence.

The European Union (EU) represents a unique and ambitious experiment in regional integration, evolving from a post-World War II effort to foster economic interdependence and prevent future conflicts into a powerful supranational entity. This journey has seen the development of institutions and symbols that reflect its distinct identity, alongside its growing role on the global stage.

Let's examine the assertion and reason provided:

Assertion (A): The European Union has its own flag, anthem, founding date and currency.

This statement is true.

Flag: The EU adopted its flag – a circle of twelve golden stars on a blue background – in 1986. The stars symbolise unity, solidarity, and harmony among the peoples of Europe.
Anthem: The melody from the "Ode to Joy" movement of Ludwig van Beethoven's Ninth Symphony was adopted as the anthem of the European Union in 1985. It symbolises the ideals of freedom, peace, and solidarity.
Founding Date: While the EU's origins can be traced back to the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) in 1951, or the Treaty of Rome establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) in 1957, the modern European Union as we know it was formally established by the Treaty of Maastricht in 1993. Europe Day is celebrated on May 9th, commemorating the 1950 Schuman Declaration, which proposed the pooling of French and West German coal and steel production, a foundational step towards European integration. Thus, it has recognised foundational moments and a formal establishment date.
Currency: The Euro (€) was introduced as an accounting currency in 1999 and as physical banknotes and coins in 2002. It is the official currency of 20 of the 27 EU member states, forming the Eurozone.

Note

While not all EU member states use the Euro (e.g., Denmark, Sweden, Poland), the EU as an entity has its own currency, the Euro, which is a significant symbol of its economic integration.

Reason (R): The European Union has a major influence on the economic, political and military fields in the contemporary world.

This statement is also true.

Economic Influence: The EU is one of the world's largest economies, a major trading bloc, and a significant player in global finance. Its internal market facilitates free movement of goods, services, capital, and people, making it a powerful economic force. The Euro is a major reserve currency globally.
Political Influence: The EU exerts considerable political influence through its diplomatic efforts, its role in international organisations, and its ability to set global standards in areas like environmental protection, data privacy, and consumer rights. It often speaks with a unified voice on international issues, amplifying its impact. …

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Same / Similar Concept — real previous-year questions on the same or a closely similar concept, not this exact question.

CBSE 2026Set 59/3/11 markMCQ
$Q. Given below are two statements, one is labelled as Assertion (A) and other as Reason (R). Read these statements and choose the correct answer from the given below options : Assertion (A) : The European Union has its own flag, anthem, founding date and currency. Reason (R) : The European Union has a major influence on the economic, political and military fields in the contemporary world. Options : (A) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of the Assertion (A). (B) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of the Assertion (A). (C) Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true. (D) Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.$
›Reveal solutionSolution
Both the assertion that the European Union has its own flag, anthem, founding date, and currency, and the reason that it has major global influence, are true statements. However, the symbols and currency are not the direct explanation for its global influence.

The European Union (EU) represents a unique and ambitious experiment in regional integration, evolving from a post-World War II effort to foster economic interdependence and prevent future conflicts into a powerful supranational entity. This journey has seen the development of institutions and symbols that reflect its distinct identity, alongside its growing role on the global stage.

Let's examine the assertion and reason provided:

Assertion (A): The European Union has its own flag, anthem, founding date and currency.

This statement is true.

Flag: The EU adopted its flag – a circle of twelve golden stars on a blue background – in 1986. The stars symbolise unity, solidarity, and harmony among the peoples of Europe.

Anthem: The melody from the "Ode to Joy" movement of Ludwig van Beethoven's Ninth Symphony was adopted as the anthem of the European Union in 1985. It symbolises the ideals of freedom, peace, and solidarity.

Founding Date: While the EU's origins can be traced back to the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) in 1951, or the Treaty of Rome establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) in 1957, the modern European Union as we know it was formally established by the Treaty of Maastricht in 1993. Europe Day is celebrated on May 9th, commemorating the 1950 Schuman Declaration, which proposed the pooling of French and West German coal and steel production, a foundational step towards European integration. Thus, it has recognised foundational moments and a formal establishment date.

Currency: The Euro (€) was introduced as an accounting currency in 1999 and as physical banknotes and coins in 2002. It is the official currency of 20 of the 27 EU member states, forming the Eurozone.

Note

While not all EU member states use the Euro (e.g., Denmark, Sweden, Poland), the EU as an entity has its own currency, the Euro, which is a significant symbol of its economic integration.

Reason (R): The European Union has a major influence on the economic, political and military fields in the contemporary world.

This statement is also true.

Economic Influence: The EU is one of the world's largest economies, a major trading bloc, and a significant player in global finance. Its internal market facilitates free movement of goods, services, capital, and people, making it a powerful economic force. The Euro is a major reserve currency globally.

Political Influence: The EU exerts considerable political influence through its diplomatic efforts, its role in international organisations, and its ability to set global standards in areas like environmental protection, data privacy, and consumer rights. It often speaks with a unified voice on international issues, amplifying its impact. …
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