201 QUESTIONS + ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS IN THE END

(24 out of these 201 questions appeared in my FGIV exam in December 2022)

1. What is true about EU fundamental rights?

All MS need to establish an organization or similar that checks for discriminators, conduct surveys
and independent reports.

2. What is NOT a right of EU citizens according to…?

To stand candidate for national elections in another MS

3. Orange card procedure

National parliament of an EUMS can object to an EU legislative proposal if they deem the principle of
subsidiarity has been violated (arguing that the target can be better tackled at the national, regional
or local level

4. Which was not an element of the Juncker plan?

Quantitative easing programme (QE)

5. How many countries participated in the 2002 Euro banknotes and coins changeover?
12

6. Early warning system

Regional Parliaments have a possibility to be consulted by National Parliaments at an early stage of
the EU legislative procedure to assess whether draft legislative acts comply with the subsidiarity
principle.
Lisbon Treaty

7. What happens if the EP does not consent to an international agreement?

It is not adopted.

8. EU budget principles
The EU budget obeys the nine general rules:
 Unity
 Budgetary accuracy
 Annuality
 Equilibrium
 Unit of account (the euro)
 Universality
 Specification (each appropriation is allocated to a particular kind of expenditure)
 Sound financial management
 Transparency

9. What is the Bretton Woods system?

A multilateral agreement on international cooperation on monetary policy (1994).
Other words: provide the framework to create fixed international currency exchange rates.

10. What does the Common Commercial Policy cover according to Art. 207 TFEU?
Trade in goods and services, the commercial aspects of intellectual property, foreign direct
investment.
  INFO: also, uniformity in measures of liberalisation, export policy and measures to protect
trade such as those to be taken in the event of dumping or subsidies.

11. What is true about the Monroe doctrine of 1823?

It aimed to prevent European powers from extending their influence in the Western hemisphere
(anti-imperialism)

12. Which EU agency responsible for border management received more funding after 2015?
Frontex

13. What happens after citizen initiative of 1 million citizens from at least ¼ MS submitted?
Submitted to the EC, who should review it within 3 months.

14. What is WRONG about CAP?

 It was reformed after 1992 to better reflect environmental concerns as well as a shift from
market support to producer support
 It was established in the Treaty of Rome
 It requires that only those farmers who adhere to at least basic environmental requirements
(cross-implementation) receive direct payments and those adhering to higher environmental
requirements receive green direct payments
 Agriculture is directly dealt with by the EU, unlike transport and education

15. What is true about the infringement procedure?

It should be approved by 2/3 majority of MEP.

16. What is true about legislation in the EU?

Directive –> binding only in terms of the result to be achieved.

INFO:
Binding
 Regulations have binding legal force throughout every Member State and enter into force on
a set date in all the Member States.
 Directives lay down certain results that must be achieved but each Member State is free to
decide how to transpose directives into national laws.
 Decisions are EU laws relating to specific cases and directed to individual or several
Member States, companies or private individuals. They are binding upon those to whom
they are directed.

Not binding
 Recommendations are not binding. A recommendation allows the institutions to make their
views known and to suggest a line of action without imposing any legal obligation on those to
whom it is addressed.
 Opinions are not binding. An opinion is an instrument that allows the institutions to make a
statement without imposing any legal obligation on those to whom it is addressed.

Non-legislative
 Implementing act is a non-legislative act laying down detailed rules allowing the uniform
implementation of legally binding Union acts
  Delegated acts are non-legislative acts adopted by the European Commission that serve to
amend or supplement the non-essential elements of the legislation.

17. What is the G20?

A forum of industrialised countries

18. What EU institutions are mainly in charge of the legislative procedure?

EC, EP, Council

19. When did EP direct election enter into force?

1976 (EP to be elected via direct universal suffrage). First elections in 1979. Veil.

20. What type of agreement is Cotonou?

Free Trade Agreement (EPA with ACP).

21. Which is not a task of the ELA?

Definition/regulation of labour rights
Neither: mediate cross-border disputes between companies and individuals.

22. Who does not take part in the budget proposal and adoption?
ECA

23. In-depth analysis of macroeconomic problems of MS – where is the doc included?

European Semester
24. First time the EU pronounced itself on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict?
Venice declaration 1980  right to self-govern.

25. Independence of South Sudan?

2011

26. What is the Copenhagen criteria?

 Stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights and respect
for and protection of minorities  these need to be fulfilled for negotiations to begin.
 A functioning market economy and the ability to cope with competitive pressure and market
forces within the EU;
 The ability to take on the obligations of membership, including the capacity to effectively
implement the rules, standards and policies that make up the body of EU law (the ‘acquis’),
and adherence to the aims of political, economic and monetary union.

27. In which document can you find a detailed review of national fiscal…?
Part of the European semester

28. What can the EP not do?

Dismiss the Ombudsman, it can only suggest it.

29. Length of the infringement procedure?

Average 35, max 48.

30. How can national parliaments enforce subsidiarity in face of EC legislative proposal?
Must send a reasoned opinion in 8 weeks.

INFO:
 Yellow card procedure: if 1/3 of national parliaments (1/4 for freedom, security and justice)
submit a reasoned opinion stating it violates subsidiarity, the EC must decide whether to
maintain, change ir withdraw it giving a reason. Used 3 times.
 Orange card procedure: if reasoned opinion represents majority of votes, the EC must review
and decide whether to maintain, change or withdraw it, demonstrating in front of the EP and
the Council why it complies with the principle of subsidiarity. Neves used.

31. Lisbon Treaty introduced a procedure of subsidiarity control.

EC shall forward its draft legislative acts and amended drafts to national Parliaments at the same
time as to the Union legislators.

32. Aim of the Stability and Growth Pact (SGP)?

Coordination of fiscal policies to ensure sound fiscal policies/public finances and correct excessive
budgets or debt.
 State’s budget deficit cannot exceed 3% of GDP and national debt cannot surpass 60% GDP.

33. Committee of Regions members and frequency of meeting?

399 members representing local and regional entities of EUMS. It meets 5/6 times a year.

34. Where does the EP meet?

Brussels and Strasbourg

35. Member in the EP

705 (751 pre-Brexit)

36. Paris agreement

Limit global warming to well below 2ºC preferably to 1,5% compared to pre-industrial levels.

37. Date European Semester and information.

2011. Fiscal, economic and employment policy challenges under a common annual timeline.
38. What does article 20 TFEU say?
1. Citizenship of the Union is hereby established. Every person holding the nationality of a
Member State shall be a citizen of the Union. Citizenship of the Union shall be additional to and
not replace national citizenship.
2. Citizens of the Union shall enjoy the rights and be subject to the duties provided for in the
Treaties. They shall have, inter alia:
(a) the right to move and reside freely within the territory of the Member States;
(b) the right to vote and to stand as candidates in elections to the European Parliament and
in municipal elections in their Member State of residence, under the same conditions as
nationals of that State;
(c) the right to enjoy, in the territory of a third country in which the Member State of which
they are nationals is not represented, the protection of the diplomatic and consular
authorities of any Member State on the same conditions as the nationals of that State;
(d) the right to petition the European Parliament, to apply to the European Ombudsman,
and to address the institutions and advisory bodies of the Union in any of the Treaty
languages and to obtain a reply in the same language.
39. When was the UN Agency for climate change formed?
1992.

40. What is the Transparency register?

Database that lists organisation that try to influence the law-making and policy implementation
process of the EU institutions.

41. What is LISA?

System on the management of data in the field of justice and security.

42. Headquarters of the Financial Stability Mechanism.

Luxembourg

43. Which country was not a Horizon 2020 associate country?

Croatia

44. What was the snake in the tunnel?

System of European monetary cooperation in the 1970s. It aimed to limit fluctuations between
different European currencies. The first attempt at European monetary cooperation.

45. What is the Juncker plan?

EC investment plan for Europe, EU Infrastructure Investment plan. It aims at unlocking public and
private investments in the “real economy” of at least 315 billion euro over a three-year fiscal period
(2015-2017)

46. Agreement of who is needed in fisheries?

Consent from the EP

47. What is the Kellog-Briand Pact (pact of Paris)?

1928, multilateral agreement attempting to eliminate war as an instrument of national ¡ policy.

48. Yaoundé convention

Camerun, 1963, signed between the European Economic Community and the Associated African
States and Madagascar.

49. OLP
Under the Treaty of Lisbon, codecision officially became the 'Ordinary Legislative Procedure' and the
general rule for passing legislation at EU level, covering most areas of Union action.
For ex, EC holds the right of initiative, but in some cases, legislative act can be submitted by a group
of MS, recommendation of the ECB or the CoJ.

1. Where was the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea signed?

● Montego Bay, Jamaica

2. Who was not an EP president?

● Jacques Delors
3. What are the founding countries of NATO?
● Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway,
Portugal, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

4. What is the number of EU MS in NATO?

● 21.

5. What is the nature of PESCO?

● Correct answer said it was linked to CARD, treaty commitment, one of the wrong answers
mentioned an opt-out procedure?

6. Which countries are part of G5 Sahel?

● Niger, Mali, Mauritania, Chad, Burkina Faso

7. What is Art 20 TFEU about?

● Correct answer on (Union) citizenship rights

8. What was concluded at the Barcelona Council 2002?

● provision of childcare to at least 90% of children between 3 years and mandatory school
age

9. How many members does the Eurozone have?

● 19

10. How was the winner of the 2019 European Parliament elections?
● European People’s Party (EPP) led by Manfred Weber won 187 seats (21%)

● Add:
i. ninth parliamentary election since the first direct elections in 1979
ii. 751 MEPs down to 705
iii. Turnout: 50.66%
11. Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) – where and how many members?
● Headquarters are in Beijing, China.

● has 103 members as well as 21 prospective members from around the world

12. What is the SAARC?

● South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is the regional intergovernmental
organization and geopolitical union of states in South Asia. Its member states are
Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

13. What is ENISA?

● The European Union Agency for Cybersecurity
14. What is ITER?
● an international nuclear fusion research and engineering megaproject aimed at replicating
the fusion processes of the sun to create energy on earth
● The name ITER stands for International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor

15. What organisation was founded in 2008?

● Union for the Mediterranean (UfM)

16. Who is the Freedom of thought Prize named after?

● Sakharov

● Add:
i. established in December 1988 by the European Parliament
ii. Nominations for the Sakharov Prize can be made by political groups and/or groups of
at least 40 MEPs.

17. Where is the Spratly/Paracelsus Islands?

● South China Sea

18. What was the target of the 2018 Renewable Energy Directive?
● 32% renewable energy consumption until 2030 (with a clause for a possible upwards
revision by 2023)

19. Question about Venice Declaration 1980

● an agreement issued by the nine-member economic committee of the EEC, which met in June
1980 in conjunction with Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO). The declaration called for
the acknowledgment of Palestinians’ right to self-government and the PLO’s right to be
connected to peace initiatives

20. Question on the rights of the national parliaments under the subsidiarity control mechanism
● Answer which describes the “orange card” (majority of MS parliaments within 8 weeks)

● This "early warning mechanism" on subsidiarity was introduced in the Lisbon Treaty
(December 2009) with the purpose of strengthening the position of national parliaments
within the institutional constellation of the European Union.

21. How did the Lisbon treaty strengthen the power of the European Parliament?
● EP decides on the full budget

22. What is true about the ECJ?

● The Court of Justice has at least 1 judge per MS
i. Members:
 o Court of Justice (ECJ): 1 judge from each EU country, plus 11 advocates
general. Deals with requests for preliminary rulings from national courts,
certain actions for annulment and appeals.
o General Court: 2 judges each from each EU country. Rules on actions for
annulment brought by individuals, companies and, in some cases, EU
governments.
ii. Established 1952 – sits in Luxembourg

23. Who was EP President in 1979?

● Simone Veil

24. Who may appeal to ECJ in the case of a breach of the principle of subsidiarity?
● The Committee of the Regions or EU countries may refer an adopted act directly to the
Court of Justice of the EU.

25. What is the Annual Growth Survey / ASGS?

● Commission's main tool for setting out the general economic and social priorities for the EU
for the following year

26. Which countries participate in the civil protection mechanism?

● EU MS and 7 Participating States to the Mechanism (Iceland, Norway, Serbia, North
Macedonia, Montenegro, Bosnia, and Turkey)

27. What is the set-up of the Arctic Council?

● The eight countries with sovereignty over the lands within the Arctic Circle constitute the
members of the council: Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, and
the United States
i. Info: Formed in 1996 (Ottawa Declaration)
28. Which does not fall under Art. 3 TFEU?
● Environment

● Other (wrong) options: customs union, monetary policy for Eurozone members, common
commercial policy
● Add:
i. CATEGORIES AND AREAS OF UNION COMPETENCE
ii. The Union shall have exclusive competence in the following areas:
o (a) customs union;
o (b) the establishing of the competition rules necessary for the functioning of
the internal market;
o (c) monetary policy for the Member States whose currency is the euro;
o (d) the conservation of marine biological resources under the common
fisheries policy;
o (e) common commercial policy.
iii. The Union shall also have exclusive competence for the conclusion of an
international agreement when its conclusion is provided for in a legislative act of the
 Union or is necessary to enable the Union to exercise its internal competence, or in
so far as its conclusion may affect common rules or alter their scope.

29. What are the competencies of the EESC?

● Advisory on economic, employment and social affairs.

30. What is the Trilogue?

● Negotiations between the institutions on legislative proposals generally take the form of
tripartite meetings ('trilogues') between Parliament, the Council and the Commission.

31. What type of agreements does the EU have with African nations under the Cotonou Agreement?
● Economic Partnership Agreements, EPA

● Add:
i. European Union and the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States ("ACP
countries").
ii. It was signed in June 2000 in Cotonou, Benin's largest city, by 78 ACP countries
(Cuba did not sign) and the then fifteen Member States of the European Union. It
entered into force in 2003 and was subsequently revised in 2005 and 2010.
iii. The Cotonou Agreement replaced the Lomé Convention.

32. How many countries signed the Cotonou agreement?

● 79 ACP countries + 15 MS of EU

33. How many sub-Saharan Cotonou members?

● 48.

34. What is the Minamata Convention about?

● The Minamata Convention on Mercury is an international treaty designed to protect human
health and the environment from anthropogenic emissions and releases of mercury and
mercury compounds.
35. What is the Budget distribution of the CAP?
● Income support (€41.74 bn), rural development (€14.37 bn), market measures (€2.7 bn)

36. What is COSME?

● The programme for the Competitiveness of Enterprises and Small and Medium-sized
Enterprises (COSME).

37. Which is NOT a basic principle of the Union’s expenditure? (budgetary principles)
● Pass over credits.

38. What is the European Recovery Program?

● Quote from George C. Marshall from 1947 describing the program.
39. Which description is right concerning the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the
Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies (Outer Space
Treaty)?
● Adopted 1967, no property claims.

40. What are the treaties of Tlatelolco, Rarotonga, Bangkok, Pelindaba about?
● Establishing nuclear free zones.

41. Several statements about voting procedures in the Council, which one is correct?
● A member of the Council can act on the behalf of one other absent member as long as a
majority of the council’s members are present.
● Add:
i. Wrong answers:
o The Council can vote on a legislative act 12 weeks after the draft act has
been sent to national parliaments for their examination. (wrong, 8 weeks
would be correct)
42. What is the ESM?
● The ESM’s mission is to provide financial assistance to euro area countries experiencing or
threatened by severe financing problems.
● Add:
i. There is a similar answer option that says “EU member states” instead of euro area
countries, pay attention on that.

43. What is the Rotterdam convention?

● A multilateral treaty to promote shared responsibilities in relation to importation of
hazardous chemicals.

44. Which countries were not among the top 4 trading partners of the EU in 2018?
● Japan

● Add:
i. Wrong answers: USA, China, Russia

45. What is the Esquipulas Agreement?

● Peace initiative in the mid-1980s to settle the military conflicts that had plagued Central
America for many years.
● Add:
i. named for Esquipulas, Guatemala, where the initial meetings took place.
ii. Signed 1986

46. Question on the infringement procedure

● The Commission identifies possible infringements of EU law on the basis of its own
investigations or following complaints from citizens, businesses or other stakeholders.
47. In the September 2018 Eurobarometer, in which field did most citizens demand further
harmonization?
● Wages.

● Add:
i. Wrong answers: taxes, animal welfare.

48. Who founded the New Development Bank?

● BRICS.

49. Which country is not member of BRICS?

● Indonesia.

● Add:
i. BRICS: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa

50. 4 statements about EU legislative acts, which one is true?

● The one describing delegated acts.

51. What is the Montréal Protocol?

● international treaty designed to protect the ozone layer.

52. Majority needed in the EP for a motion of censure?

● 2/3 of votes cast.

53. How many EU citizens lived in another EU MS in March 2019?

● 17,6 Million.

54. What are the 4 principles laid down in Art. 5 TEU?

● Conferral, subsidiarity, proportionality.

● Add:
i. conferral – the EU has only that authority conferred upon it by the EU treaties,
which have been ratified by all member countries
ii. proportionality – the EU action cannot exceed what is necessary to achieve the
objectives of the treaties
iii. subsidiarity – in areas where either the EU or national governments can act, the EU
may intervene only if it can act more effectively

55. What is the duration of the MFF?

● Seven years.

56. What is ELA and its functions?

● The European Labour Authority helps improve cooperation between EU countries,
coordinates joint inspections, carries out analyses and risk assessments on cross-border
labour mobility issues and mediates disputes between EU countries.
57. What are the members of MERCOSUR?
● Four members: Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay

● Venezuela full member but suspended since 2016

● Seven associated members: Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru and Suriname

58. What does the EFSI include?

● EFSI is the financial pillar of the EU’s Investment Plan for Europe and has two components:
the Infrastructure and Innovation Window (IIW) managed by the EIB and the SME Window
implemented by the EIF.

59. What is GSP+?

● EU's Special Incentive Arrangement for Sustainable Development and Good Governance,
GSP+, is part of EU's unilateral tariff preferences in favour of developing countries, the
Generalised Scheme of Preferences, GSP, which was revamped as of 1 January 2014. It
slashes these same tariffs to 0% for vulnerable low and lower-middle income countries that
implement 27 international conventions related to human rights, labour rights, protection of
the environment and good governance.
i. There are currently 8 GSP+ beneficiaries: Armenia, Bolivia, Cape Verde, Kyrgyzstan,
Mongolia, Pakistan, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka.

60. Where is the EBA (European Banking Authority) based?

● Paris (before it was London)

61. Which country joined the euro in 2015 out of Croatia, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania?
● Lithuania

● Info: Croatia (never), Estonia (2011), Latvia (2014) and Lithuania (2015)

62. What is the EU's cultural programme called?

● Creative Europe

63. What are the Horizon 2020 project selection criteria?

● Excellence, impact, and quality and efficiency of implementation

64. What was the previous role of Juncker?

● Juncker was the first Permanent President of the EuroGroup; before that Prime Minister of
Luxembourg. President of the European Commission (2014 - 2019)· Minister for the
Treasury (2009 - 2013) · President of the Eurogroup (2005 - 2013)

65. What was the previous role of Tusk?

● Now President of the European People's Party. Was President of the European Council from
2014 to 2019. Prime Minister of Poland (2007–2014)
66. How often is EuroBarometer published/collected?
● Twice a year, in Spring and Autumn.

67. How does the EU support trade in developing countries?

● Aid for Trade: Globally the EU and its Member States are the biggest provider of Aid for
Trade. In 2015 alone, EU commitments amounted to a record €13.16 billion per year.
Managed with WTO.

68. How does the EU negotiate trade agreements under the Aid for Trade scheme?
● Bilaterally.

69. How many official languages does the EU have?

● 24

70. How many MEPs are necessary to form a group in parliament?

● A formally recognised political group must consist of at least 23 MEPs coming from at least
one-quarter of the member states (i.e. seven, at least).

71. What organisation supports individuals and businesses to claim their rights?
● SOLVIT.

72. What is the role of the JRC?

● To provide scientific advice to the Commission.

● The Joint Research Centre is the Commission's science and knowledge service. The JRC
employs scientists to carry out research in order to provide independent scientific advice and
support to EU policy.

73. What was the first organisation for Latin American integration?
● The Pan American Union (1948).

74. What policy area is affected by the Bosman case 1995?

● Freedom of movement.

● Add:
i. The decision banned restrictions on foreign EU players within national leagues and
allowed players in the EU to move to another club at the end of a contract without a
transfer fee being paid.

75. What is the size of the InvestEU plan?

● €9.4 billion
i. InvestEU will run between 2021 and 2027 and it builds on the success of the Juncker
Plan's European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) by providing an EU budget
guarantee to support investment and access to finance in the EU. With the aim of
triggering a new wave – more than €372 billion - in investments using an EU budget
 guarantee, the InvestEU Programme aims to give an additional boost to investment,
innovation and job creation in Europe over the period 2021-27

76. How do you call the documents which tables data and a legislative proposal?
● Staff Working Document (SWD)

77. What is the triple helix in research policy jargon?

● The interaction of government, industry, university.

78. Where is the ESM located?

● In Luxembourg.

79. Votes needed to pass MFF (Multi-Annual Financial Framework) in the Council and the European
Parliament?
● The Council shall act unanimously after obtaining the consent of the European Parliament,
which shall be given by an (absolute) majority of its component members.

80. When was the EIGE (Institute for Gender Equality) founded?
● It was founded in 2006.

81. Who leads the Operation Atalanta (formally European Union Naval Force Somalia)?
● It is led by the EU, NOT by NATO.

82. How many vice presidents in the VdL Commission?

● Eight, of which Frans Timmermans is the first.

83. Which countries voted against Lisbon Treaty?

● Ireland [see “Irish Guarantee”].

84. Which countries voted against the Constitution for Europe in 2005?
● NL and FR.

85. What is Twinning?

● Twinning is a European Union instrument for institutional cooperation between Public
Administrations of EU Member States (MS) and of beneficiary countries (BC). It was
originally designed in 1998 to help candidate countries of the time to acquire the necessary
skills and experience to adopt, implement and enforce EU legislation.

86. Which crisis did the Luxembourg compromise resolve in 1966?

● The empty chair crisis.

87. Which anniversary did the Schuman Declaration celebrate in 2020?

● 70 years.
88. How many people think that climate change is man-made?
● Eurobarometer 2020: 93% population think that climate change is man made

89. Number of farmers and farms in the EU in 2018 and relative income in comparison to non-agricultural
workers
● There are around 10 million farms in the EU and 22 million people work regularly in the
sector
● despite the importance of food production, farmers’ income is around 40% lower compared
to non-agricultural income;

90. The ECB Executive board consists of?

● The president (Christine Lagarde), Vice-President and four other members.

● Add:
i. All members are appointed by the European Council, acting by a qualified majority.
ii. eight-year term that cannot be renewed

91. What is true about the Citizen's Initiative?

● The initiative enables one million citizens of the European Union, who are nationals of at
least one quarter of the member states

92. What is Everything But Arms (EBA) about?

● Initiative of the European Union under which all imports to the EU from the Least Developed
Countries are duty-free and quota-free, with the exception of armaments.
● (Keyword here was „automatically“ applicable vs. country has to apply for it). LDCs.

93. What does ESPAS stand for?

● European Strategy and Policy Analysis System
94. Which organisation was founded the earliest between OAU, ASEAN, GCC, MERCOSUR?
● OAU

● Add:
i. Organisation of African Unity (OAU). 1963 – 2002
ii. ASEAN. 1967 – today
iii. Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). 1981- today
iv. Mercosur. 1991 – today

95. A question about the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (about his/her second
automatic position).
● Since the 2009 Lisbon Treaty entered into force, the High Representative of the Union for
Foreign Affairs and Security Policy is ex officio one of the Vice-Presidents.

96. What is true about the EU Fundamental Rights?

● The terms of the charter are addressed to
 o the institutions and bodies of the EU
o national authorities only when they are implementing EU law

97. How does the EU encounter illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU)?
● The EU regulation to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated
fishing (in short: the IUU Regulation) entered into force on 1 January 2010.
● Add:
i. Options included
o 1 - Regulation - which allows for the confiscation of vessels,
o 2 - IUU Regulation - something,
o 3 - catch certification scheme,
o 4 - the EU has no competence to legislate, this is up to the agency (I think it
was Fisheries Control Agency))

98. Who can propose a revision of the Treaties?

● The government of any Member State, the European Parliament or the European
Commission may submit a proposal to the Council of Ministers to amend the European
treaties.

99. Which treaty introduced the principle of subsidiarity?

● Treaty of Maastricht 1992 (signed). Art. 5

100. Which institutions are mentioned in Art. 13 TFEU?

● European Parliament, European Commission, European Council, The Council, ECB, Court of
Auditors, Court of Justice

101. Which is not a requirement for the election of the Commission President?
● unanimity of the European Council

● Add:
i. Options:
o unanimity of the European Council,
o qualified majority of the European Council,
o the results of the EP elections to be taken into consideration,
o simple majority of EP

102. Which court does not take individual claims?

● International Court of Justice.

103. What is true about legislation concerning the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP)?
● With regard to the ratification of international fisheries agreements, the Lisbon Treaty
stipulates that they are to be ratified by the Council after Parliament has given its consent.
● The most important change is that legislation necessary for the pursuit of the objectives of
the CFP is now adopted under the ordinary legislative procedure (formerly known as the co-
 decision procedure), making Parliament co-legislator. However, such legislation can only be
adopted by the Council on the basis of a proposal from the Commission.
● The EP has to give its consent.

104. Who coined the term UN?

● Franklin D. Roosevelt.

105. Which treaty gave the EU legal personality?

● The Treaty of Lisbon.

106. Who adopts country-specific recommendations (CSR)?

● The Council.

107. When and who delivered the “Iron Curtain Speech”?

● Former British prime minister Winston Churchill in Fulton, Missouri, on March 5, 1946

108. Who held a speech on “United States of Europe” in 1946?

● Winston Churchill at the University of Zurich on 19 September 1946.

109. What are the energy efficiency goals for 2030?

● headline energy efficiency target for 2030 of at least 32.5%. The target, to be achieved
collectively across the EU

110. UN Security Council – procedure for designating non-permanent members

● Ten non-permanent members are elected by the United Nations General Assembly for two-
year terms starting on 1 January, with five replaced each year. To be approved, a candidate
must receive at least two-thirds of all votes cast for that seat.

111. OECD and EU – how many MS are members and what’s the EU’s status?
● OECD has 38 member states, of which 22 are EU members.

112. What does Art. 207 TFEU cover?

● Common Commercial Policy (CCP)

113. What is the JCPOA?

● Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. Agreement on the Iranian nuclear program reached in
Vienna on 14 July 2015
● Add:
i. between Iran and the P5+1 (the five permanent members of the United Nations
Security Council—China, France, Russia, United Kingdom, United States—plus
Germany) together with the EU.

114. What is the Basel Convention?

 ● Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal

● Adopted 1989, effective 1992

● Number of Signatories: 53, Number of Parties: 188

115. Accession of EU member states

● In 1951, six countries founded the European Coal and Steel Community, and later, in 1957,
the European Economic Community and the European Atomic Energy Community:
BENELUX, DE, IT, FR
● 1973: Denmark, Ireland, United Kingdom

● 1981: Greece

● 1986: Spain, Portugal

● 1995: Austria, Finland, Sweden

● 2004: Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia,
Slovenia
● 2007: Bulgaria, Romania

● 2013: Croatia

116. With which countries does the EU have an SAA (Stabilization and Association Agreement? And
when?
● Albania (2009), the Republic of North Macedonia (2004), Montenegro (2010), Serbia (2013)
and Turkey are candidate countries
● BiH (2015), Kosovo (2016) are potential candidates

117. What is the standard decision-making mode of the European Council?

● Consensus

118. What’s the population of EU-27?

● 448 million

119. What are the Commission’s six priorities (VdL)? 2019-2024

● A European Green Deal

● A Europe fit for the digital age

● An economy that works for people

● A stronger Europe in the world

● Promoting our European way of life

● A new push for European democracy

120. What is the definition of a referendum?
● A direct public vote on a policy issue.

121. What is the US National Academy of Sciences (NAS)?

● The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) is a United States nonprofit, private, non-governmental
organisation. NAS is part of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

122. How do we call the proposal made by the Commission in a specific area?
● White paper. It contains proposals for European Union (EU) action in a specific area.

123. How do we call that political guidance when you set the agenda and create the necessary environment of
policy change?
● Leadership.

124. Which does not relate to the creation of the Banking Union?
● European Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM)

125. Where does the consultation procedure not apply?

● Not used for agriculture.

126. Which countries are in European Single market?

● EU-27 + Norway, Liechtenstein, Iceland, Switzerland

127. What is open in the Council for public viewers?

● Legislative deliberations and Public debates (non-legislative work).

128. What is SIGMA?

● A Joint EU OECD programme, created in 1992 and principally financed by the EU. It focuses on strengthening
public man agement in areas such as administrative reform, public procurement, public sector ethics, anti-
corruption, and external and internal financial control.

129. What is TAIEX?

● Technical Assistance and Information Exchange instrument of the European Commission. TAIEX supports
public administrations with regard to the approximation, application and enforcement of EU legislation as
well as facilitating the sharing of EU best practices.

130. If EU nationals feel their rights are not respected by MS authorities, who do they go to?
● Solvit, Your Europe Advice, or FIN-NET, which all operate on national levels.

● European Ombudsman, which operates on Commission level (if citizens feel the commission has failed to
address them)

131. Police and judicial cooperation on criminal matters agencies:

● FRONTEX 2004

● EUROPOL 1999

● EUROJUST 2002

● OLAF 1999

● EPPO 2017
 ● NOT CEPOL (European police college), which is just for training law enforcement officials.

132. How many seats is every MS guaranteed, regardless of size, in the EP?
● 6 seats (as Cyprus, Luxembourg, and Malta all have); Max per country is 96.

133. European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF)’s role within CAP (Common Agricultural Policy)

● EAGF is a funding mechanism that finances farmers directly via interventions and export refunds.

134. How many vice-presidents does the European Parliament have?

● 14.

135. What is the Truman Doctrine?

● The principle that the US should give support to countries or peoples threatened by Soviet forces or
Communist insurrection.

136. What is the Duran Line?

● The Durand Line is the 2,640 km border between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

137. What are the institutions of the EMU?

● ECB, ESCB (European System of Central Banks), Economic and Financial Committee, EuroGroup, ECOFIN

138. Which organisation was created to ensure follow-up of the Barcelona process?
● The Euro-Mediterranean Committee for the Barcelona Process.

139. What does Art 3 TEU cover?

● The Union's aim is to promote peace, its values and the well-being of its peoples; etc. Basically the
OBJECTIVES.

140. Founding members of EFTA (European Free Trade Association)

● Austria, Denmark, Portugal, Sweden, UK, Norway, Switzerland.

141. Decision making process in the Council - difference between ‘A’ and ‘B’ items?
● 'A' item on the Council agenda, meaning that agreement is expected without debate.

● 'B' section of the Council agenda includes points: left over from previous Council meetings; upon which no
agreement was reached in Coreper (Committee of Permanent Representatives) or at working party level; that
are too politically sensitive to be settled at a lower level.

142. Which Latin American Country does not have a trade agreement with EU?
● Brazil.

143. EU Blue Card?

● An EU Blue Card gives highly-qualified workers from outside the EU the right to live and work in an EU country,
provided they have higher professional qualifications, such as a university degree, and an employment
contract or a binding job offer with a high salary compared to the average in the EU country where the job is.
The EU Blue Card applies in 25 of the 27 EU countries. It does not apply in Denmark and Ireland.

144. Whose name is connected to CAP historically? And who was the pioneer?
 ● Mansholt. Spaak.

145. When was the European Development Fund (EDF) created?

● 1957 (voluntary donations by EU member states).

146. What does SWOT for?

● Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.

147. What is the Berne convention?

● International agreement governing copyright, which was first accepted in Berne in 1886.

148. When was the forerunner for Eurostat established?

● 1958.

149. What are interinstitutional bodies of the EU?

● Computer Emergency Response Team

● EPSO

● Publication office of the EU

● European School of Administration

150. What is EMIR?

● European Market Infrastructure Regulation

151. Types of proceedings in the ECJ?

● Infringement procedure

● Actions for annulment

● Action for failure to act

● Action for damages

● Preliminary rulings / interpreting EU law

152. Costa vs Enel case

● 1964

● Established the supremacy of EU law against national law

 Questions in Political affairs / EU policies:
EU General

1. How many official languages?

o 24

2. What is a trio?

o The trio refers to the 3 EU countries which hold the presidency of the Council of the European Union for a
total of 18 months and which work closely together over that period. Each member of the trio chairs all
configurations of the Council for a 6-month period, with the exception of the Foreign Affairs configuration.

o This system was introduced after the Lisbon Treaty in 2009. Each trio sets long-term goals and develops a joint
agenda identifying the topics and issues to be addressed by the Council over a period of 18 months. Each of
the 3 EU countries prepares its own more detailed 6-month programme, taking due account of the goals and
the agenda.

3. Bosman case

o Is a 1995 European Court of Justice decision concerning freedom of movement for workers, freedom of
association, and direct effect of article 39 (now article 45 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European
 Union) of the TEC. The case was an important decision on the free movement of labour and had a profound
effect on the transfers of footballers within the European Union (EU).
o The decision banned restrictions on foreign EU players within national leagues and allowed players in the EU to
move to another club at the end of a contract without a transfer fee being paid.

4. How many EU institutions according to Art. 13?

o The institutions of the EU are the seven principal decision making bodies of the European Union (EU). They
are, as listed in Article 13 of the Treaty on European Union: the European Parliament, the European Council,
the Council of the European Union, the European Commission, the Court of Justice of the European Union,
the European Central Bank and the Court of Auditors.
5. EU barometer study – when is it published?

o The Standard Eurobarometer was established in 1974. Each survey consists of approximately 1000 face-to-face
interviews per country. Reports are published twice yearly.

6. Date of Schuman Declaration

o 9 May 1950. The Schuman Declaration was presented by French foreign minister Robert Schuman on 9 May
1950. It proposed the creation of a European Coal and Steel Community, whose members would pool coal and
steel production.

7. Which anniversary for the Schuman declaration in 2010?

o 60 Anniversary

8. Responsibility of FISMA

o It is the DG responsible for EU policy on banking and finance

9. DG HOME Funds

o Internal security fund for police cooperation

o Asylum, migration and integration

10. What is ITER?

o ITER ("The Way" in Latin) is one of the most ambitious energy projects in the world today. In southern France,
35 nations are collaborating to build the world's largest tokamak, a magnetic fusion device that has been
designed to prove the feasibility of fusion as a large-scale and carbon-free source of energy based on the same
principle that powers our Sun and stars.

11. Art. 48 Treaty Amendment - ordinary revision procedure, who can propose changes to the treaties?

o The Government of any MS, the EP or the Commission can propose to the Council then the Council submit to
the EU Council (National Parliament being notified). After that the EU Council can convene a Convention
(National Parliaments, Heads of State or Governments, EP, and the Commission).

12. Which one is not correct about OLAF?

o has no power to impose sanctions

13. Type of agencies

o Decentralised agencies contribute to the implementation of EU policies. They also support cooperation
between the EU and national governments by pooling technical and specialist expertise from both the EU
institutions and national authorities. Decentralised agencies are set up for an indefinite period and are located
across the EU.
o Executive agencies are set up for a limited period of time by the European Commission to manage specific
tasks related to EU programmes.
 14. History of the EU, in which year Robert Schuman’s declarations were set out?

o In 1951 with the Treaty of Paris, establishing the EU Coal and Steel Community. The ECSC (founding members:
France, West Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg) was the first of a series of
supranational European institutions that would ultimately become today's "European Union".

15. What are the main principles of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union?

o Subsidiarity and proportionality.

16. Under the Lisbon treaty, which are the different competences?

o The Lisbon Treaty for the first time clarifies the powers of the Union. It distinguishes three types of
competences: exclusive competence, where the Union alone can legislate, and Member States only
implement; shared competence, where the Member States can legislate and adopt legally binding measures if
the Union has not done so; and supporting competence, where the EU adopts measures to support or
complement Member States’ policies. Union competences can now be handed back to the Member States in
the course of a treaty revision.

17. When the EU was created?

o With the Maastricht Treaty, 1992.

Competence to support,
Exclusive competence Shared competence coordinate or supplement
(see Article 3 TFEU) (see Article 4 TFEU) actions of the member states
(see Article 6 TFEU)

 customs union  internal market  protection and

 the establishing of  social policy, limited to the aspects improvement of human
the competition rules defined in the TFEU health
necessary for the  economic, social and territorial  industry
functioning of the cohesion  culture
internal market
 agriculture and fisheries, excluding  tourism
 monetary policy for the conservation of marine biological
the member states whose
 education, vocational
resources training,
currency is the euro
 conservation of marine
 environment youth and sport
biological resources  consumer protection  civil protection
under the common  transport  administrative
fisheries policy  trans-European networks cooperation
 common commercial  energy Legally binding EU acts in
policy  area of freedom, security and these areas cannot imply the
 concluding international justice harmonisation of national
agreements laws or regulations.
 common safety concerns in public
o when their health matters, limited to the aspects
conclusion is defined in the TFEU
required by a  research, technological
legislative act of the
development and space
EU
 development
o when their
conclusion is
cooperation and humanitarian aid
necessary to enable
the EU to exercise its
 Competence to support,
Exclusive competence Shared competence coordinate or supplement
(see Article 3 TFEU) (see Article 4 TFEU) actions of the member states
(see Article 6 TFEU)

internal competence
o in so far as their
conclusion may
affect common rules
or alter their scope.

18. Which policy does not fall within the competence of the EU to coordinate and assist?

o Consumer Policy (Which is listed among other wrong options)

19. Which statement is correct on Art. 290 of the TFEU und delegated acts/powers:

o EP/Council can revoke delegation (Which is listed among other wrong options)

20. Delegated acts according to Art. 290 TFEU:

o The delegated act cannot change the essential elements of the law. The legislative act must define the
objectives, content, scope and duration of the delegation of power; EP and Council may revoke the delegation
or express objections to the delegated act

Focus on Implementing and Delegated Acts:

Once an EU law is passed, it can be necessary to update it to reflect developments in a particular sector or to ensure that it is
implemented properly. Parliament and Council can authorise the Commission to adopt delegated or implementing acts,
respectively, in order to do this.
Implementing acts
Primary responsibility for implementing EU law lies with EU countries. However, in areas where uniform conditions for
implementation are needed (taxation, agriculture, the internal market, health and food safety, etc.), the Commission (or
exceptionally the Council) adopts an implementing act.
How are implementing acts adopted?
Before the Commission can adopt an implementing act, it must usually consult a committee in which every EU country is
represented.
The committee enables EU countries to oversee the Commission's work as it adopts an implementing act – a procedure referred
to in EU jargon as ‘comitology’.
As part of the Commission's better regulation agenda, citizens and other stakeholders can provide feedback on the draft text of
an implementing act for 4 weeks before the relevant committee votes to accept or reject it.
Delegated acts
The Commission adopts them on the basis of a delegation granted in the text of an EU law, in this case a legislative act. The
Commission's power to adopt delegated acts is subject to strict limits:

 the delegated act cannot change the essential elements of the law
 the legislative act must define the objectives, content, scope and duration of the delegation of power
 EP and Council may revoke the delegation or express objections to the delegated act

How are delegated acts adopted?

The Commission prepares and adopts delegated acts after consulting expert groups, composed of representatives from each
EU country, which meet on a regular or occasional basis.
As part of the Commission's better regulation agenda, citizens and other stakeholders can provide feedback on the draft text of a
delegated act during a 4-week period. There are some exceptions, for example in case of emergency or when citizens and
stakeholders have already contributed. More details in the better regulation toolbox.

Once the Commission has adopted the act, Parliament and Council generally have 2 months to formulate any objections. If they
do not, the delegated act enters into force.

21. Which are the roles of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (HR)?

o Beside representing the EU at international fora and co-ordinating the Common Foreign and Security
Policy and the Common Security and Defence Policy, the High Representative is:

 ex-officio Vice-President of the European Commission

 participant in the meetings of the European Council
 responsible of the European Union Special Representatives
 head of the External Action Service and the delegations
 President of the Foreign Affairs Council
 Head of the European Defence Agency
 Chairperson of the board of the European Union Institute for Security Studies

o It is appointed by the European Council with the consent of the President of the European Commission.

European Council

22. European Council, how its decisions are taken?

o The European Council mostly takes its decisions by consensus. However, in certain specific cases outlined in
the EU treaties, it decides by unanimity or by qualified majority. If a vote is taken, neither the European
Council President nor the Commission President takes part.
o Qualified majority (in a number of cases, such as the election of its President, the appointment of the
Commission and of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy)

23. European Council, how the President of the Commission is elected?

o Once the Parliament has given its consent, the European Council officially appoints the European Commission.
The European Council's decision requires a qualified majority. This procedure is set out in article 17 of the
TEU.

24. What was the previous position of the President of the European Council?

o Prime Minister of Poland

Commission
25. How many votes are needed for a censure motion of EP against the Commission?

According to rule 119 (rules of procedures of the EP) a motion of censure on the Commission may be submitted to the President
by one tenth of the component Members of Parliament (75). Parliament will debate this motion in plenary session at least 24
hours after it is announced, and then put it to a roll-call-vote, at least 48 hours after the beginning of the debate.
In accordance with Article 234 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, the motion of censure shall be adopted if
it secures a two-thirds majority of the votes cast, representing a majority of the component Members of Parliament. The
President of the Council and the President of the Commission shall be notified of the result of the vote.
26. European Parliament, voting system to end/cease with the European Commission?

o Majority
 o 2/3 of the vote
o 3/5 of the vote

To be adopted, the motion of censure needs to secure a two-thirds majority of the votes cast, representing a majority of the
component Members of Parliament. The President of the Council and the President of the Commission shall be notified of the
result of the vote. If it is passed, the Commission must resign as a body.
27. What is the mandate of the Commission President?

o Five years, renewable

o
28. What was Juncker before becoming Commission president?

o From 1995 to 2013 he was the 23rd Prime Minister of Luxembourg.

o From 2005 to 2013, Juncker served as the first permanent President of the Eurogroup.
29. What was Phil Hogan doing before becoming a Commissioner?

o Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government from March 2011 to July 2014

30. What was Timmermans doing before becoming FVP Commissioner?

o Minister of Foreign Affairs (2012–2014).

31. European Commission, what is the role of the spokesperson?

o The SPP is an integral part of DG Communication, placed under the authority of the President. The Chief
Spokesperson is the Head of the SPP and is assisted by two Deputy Chief Spokespersons, two Coordinating
Spokespersons, portfolio Spokespersons and Press Officers.

Ten priorities
Prior to his election as President of the European Commission in July 2014, Jean-Claude Juncker had set out the policy priorities
which would serve as the political mandate for his five-year term in office. With the stated aim of focusing on the 'big things', he
outlined the following ten key areas in which he wanted the EU to make a difference and deliver concrete results for citizens.
1. A new boost for jobs, growth and investment
2. A connected digital single market
3. A resilient energy union with a forward-looking climate change policy
4. A deeper and fairer internal market with a strengthened industrial base
5. A deeper and fairer Economic and Monetary Union (EMU)
6. A reasonable and balanced free trade agreement with the United States
7. An area of justice and fundamental rights based on mutual trust
8. Towards a new policy on migration
9. Europe as a stronger global actor
10. A union of democratic change.

32. Which of the options below is NOT one of Junker's priorities?

o Fisheries (among other options in the list)

33. Which one is incorrect on the approval of the Commission:

o Simone Veil – Former President of the EP (79-82) - presided over the Commission. (among other options in the
list)

European Parliament

34. Which institution awards the Sakharov price?

o The European Parliament supports human rights through the annual Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought,
established in 1988.
 35. What are the requirements to establish a political group in the EP?

o For a group to be recognised, it needs 25 MEPs from 7 different countries

36. European Parliament, in which year was the first European elections?

o 1979

37. European Parliament, what is the duration of the Presidency?

o 2 ½ - years term

38. European Parliament, who was Simon Veil?

o French politician and President of the European Parliament from 1979 to 1982

39. European Parliament, what is a Rapporteur?

o During the monthly plenary sessions certain MEPs present reports which have been adopted by one of
Parliament’s committees. These reports contain proposals for resolutions or legislative amendments to be
voted on by the entire Parliament. The reports are known by the personal names of the MEPs who draft and
present them i.e “the Spinelli report”. This role is highly important in Parliament and the MEPs who write the
reports are known by the French term “Rapporteur”.

40. Which of the following is not a task of the EP?

o Dismissal of the Ombudsman –

According to Art. 228 TFEU, the EP can only request the Court of Justice to dismiss the Ombudsman if he no longer fulfils the
conditions required for the performance of his duties or if he is guilty of serious misconduct.

41. Who writes the minutes and conclusions in a Committee?

o Chair
o Rapporteur
o First secretary
o Moderator

In case the question refers to “who signs” the minutes then there are articles in the rules of procedure of both the Council and
EP stating that the minutes are generally signed by the Secretary General.
Other institutions or agencies

42. Where is the seat of EMA?

o London

43. What is the European Stability Mechanism - ESM

o The European Stability Mechanism (ESM) is an intergovernmental organization located in Luxembourg City,
which operates under public international law for all Eurozone Member States having ratified a special ESM
intergovernmental treaty. It was established on 27 September 2012 as a permanent firewall for the Eurozone,
to safeguard and provide instant access to financial assistance programmes for member states of the Eurozone
in financial difficulty, with a maximum lending capacity of €500 billion.

44. EU-LISA agency

o European Agency for the Operational Management of large-scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security
and Justice (EU-LISA) in Tallinn, Estonia.
45. EMS – what is it and which countries?

o European Monetary System (EMS) was an arrangement established in 1979 under the Jenkins European
Commission where most nations of the European Economic Community (EEC) linked their currencies to
prevent large fluctuations relative to one another. It ended in 1999.

46. European Central Bank, what is the composition of the Executive Board?

o The President, the Vice-President and four other members – all appointed by the EU Council, acting by a
qualified majority, for 8-years terms of office.
47. Which are the consultative bodies of the EU?

o CoR and EESC

48. European Economic and Social Committee, in which situation the EESC is consulted?

o Health
o Tourism
o Economic and social interests of EU citizens

49. What are the objectives of ERC?

o The European Research Council (ERC) is a public body for funding of scientific and technological research
conducted within the European Union (EU). Established by the European Commission in 2007, the ERC is
composed of an independent Scientific Council, its governing body consisting of distinguished researchers, and
an Executive Agency, in charge of the implementation.

Researchers from any field can compete for the grants that support pioneering projects. The ERC competitions
are open to top researchers also from outside the union. The average success rate is about 12%. Five ERC
grantees have won Nobel Prizes. Grant applications are assessed by qualified experts. Excellence is the sole
criterion for selection;

50. What are the objectives of JRC?

o The Joint Research Centre (JRC) is the European Commission's science and knowledge service which employs
scientists to carry out research in order to provide independent scientific advice and support to EU policy. The
JRC is a Directorate-General of the European Commission under the responsibility of Tibor Navracsics,
Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth & Sport.

51. Commission Scientific Advice Committee (SAM)

o The High Level Group of the European Commission’s Scientific Advice Mechanism (SAM) provides independent
scientific advice to the College of European Commissioners to support their decision making.
The HLG is supported by a secretariat with staff from the European Commission’s Directorate General for
Research and Innovation RTD and the Joint Research Centre JRC.

52. Who coordinates the new Scientific Advisory Mechanism to provide independent advise to the Commission ?

o A Chair and /vice Chair designated among its group

o independent high level group of experts
o Commissioner for better regulation
o ERC

53. Which of the following is true for the College's scientific advice

o composed of a group of top scientists (not one)

54. What are the main objectives of the Stability and Growth Pact (SGP)?
 o The Stability and Growth Pact (SGP) is a set of rules designed to ensure that countries in the European Union
pursue sound public finances and coordinate their fiscal policies.

o The Stability and Growth Pact (SGP) is an agreement, among the 28 Member states of the European Union, to
facilitate and maintain the stability of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU). Based primarily on Articles
121 and 126 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, it consists of fiscal monitoring of
members by the European Commission and the Council of Ministers, and the issuing of a yearly
recommendation for policy actions to ensure a full compliance with the SGP also in the medium-term.

55. What are the criteria that the Member states have to respect?

o 3% deficit and 60% debt

o 5% deficit and 60% debt

o 3% deficit and 70% debt

56. Where is based the European Stability Mechanism?

o Luxembourg
o Paris
o Brussels
o Frankfurt

57. Which task is not a competence of the EU's Court of Auditors?

o To impose fines (among other options in the list)

58. The JRC and ERC functions

o It is important to distinguish that the second is dealing with projects, the first one presenting expert
assessments.

EU Objectives and policies

59. What is the percentage of H2020 dedicated to the climate change?

o It is estimated that overall climate-related expenditure should exceed 35% of the total Horizon 2020 budget.

60. What is the Horizon 2020 budget?

o 80 billion (estimated)

61. What are the EU climate objectives?

o Key EU targets for 2020:

 20% cut in greenhouse gas emissions compared with 1990
 20% of total energy consumption from renewable energy
 20% increase in energy efficiency

62. EU2020 targets (renewables, R&D)

o 75% of the population aged 20 to 64 years to be employed

o 3% of GDP to be invested in the research and development (R&D) sector

o Climate change and energy targets:

 Greenhouse gas emissions to be reduced by 20% compared to 1990
 Share of renewable energy sources in final energy consumption to be increased to 20%
 Energy efficiency to be improved by 20%
 o Share of early school leavers to be reduced under 10% and at least 40% of 30 to 34 years old to have
completed tertiary or equivalent education.

o Poverty to be reduced by lifting at least 20 million people out of the risk of poverty or social exclusion.

63. How many % of the GDP for research in Europe 2020?

o 3% of GDP

64. What is Aid for Trade?

o The EU's Aid-for-Trade Strategy was adopted in October 2007 in response to the WTO-led AfT Initiative, to help
developing countries better integrate into the international trading system and take greater advantage of the
poverty-reducing benefits of economic openness and enhanced trade efficiency.

65. Aid for Trade – where does the term belong?

o The Doha Round - also known as the Doha Development Agenda

o Official Development Assistance (ODA)
o Bilateral trade negotiations
o Unilateral trade regime

66. What is the amount set in the European Fund for Strategic Investments?

o EUR 315 billion (in total)

o EUR 9 billion
o EUR 21 billion (16 UE +5 EIB)

EFSI is a EUR 16 billion guarantee from the EU budget, complemented by a EUR 5 billion allocation of the EIB’s own capital. The
total amount of EUR 21 billion aims to unlock additional investment of at least EUR 315bn by 2018 through the so called
leverage effect.
67. Which fund is dealing with culture?

o Creative Europe programme

68. H2020, which country is not associated to H2020?

Horizon 2020 is Open to the World. This means that participants from all over the world, regardless of their place of
establishment or residence, can participate in most of the calls of Horizon 2020. All EU Countries are by default
associated as well as Iceland, Norway, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Turkey, Israel,
Moldova, Switzerland, Faroe Islands, Ukraine, Tunisia, Georgia, and Armenia.

If Switzerland is listed then it could be an option since they were only partially associated until 31 December 2016.
69. How are the Multiannual financial plans approved?

o Formally, the MFF is approved by a unanimous decision of the Council of Ministers (in the form of a
regulation), but not before Parliament has given it its blessing ("consent") by the votes of half of its constituent
members plus one.

The procedure for deciding the Multi-annual Financial Framework is laid down in the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU. The
treaty requires the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission to "take any measure necessary to facilitate its
adoption" (Article 312:5), and stipulates that the presidents of the three institutions shall hold "regular meetings", at the
initiative of the Commission (Article 324).
The multiannual financial framework (MFF) sets the limits for the annual general budgets of the European Union. It determines
how much in total and how much for different areas of activity the EU could use each year when it enters into legally binding
obligations over a period of not less than 5 years. The recent MFFs usually covered 7 years.
70. Solvit – RAPID
 o SOLVIT provides rapid and pragmatic solutions to citizens and businesses when they are experiencing
difficulties while moving or doing business cross-border in the EU. It is a free of charge service provided
collaboratively since 2002 by the national administrations in each EU country and in Iceland, Liechtenstein and
Norway.

It is a faster, informal alternative to filing a court case, submitting a formal complaint to the Commission or putting forward a
petition. It is an efficient tool to address the issues of companies, allowing cross-border business in Europe to grow in a secure
environment.
SOLVIT deals with all cross-border issues related to the application of EU law in the area of the four freedoms of movement
(persons, goods, services and capital), including policies closely linked to them (such as taxation, employment, social policy and
transport). In 15 years, SOLVIT's case load has increased by a factor of 40. In total, the network has dealt with more than 17,000
cases of which nearly 90% were solved.
71. H2020 project selection

o Blind
o According to national R&I priorities
o Based on selection and award criteria
o By Commission officials

Proposals are evaluated and scored against selection and award criteria. The Standard Evaluation Criteria describe in detail the
criteria used for each type of action. Each full proposal is evaluated by at least three independent experts, but in many cases
more experts are needed who know about the full range of disciplines and sectors covered by the proposal.
72. What is the initial amount of the investment fund (EFSI)
o 315 billion
o 21 billion
o 16 billion/5 billion
o None of the above

EFSI is a EUR 16 billion guarantee from the EU budget, complemented by a EUR 5 billion allocation of the EIB’s own capital. The
total amount of EUR 21 billion aims to unlock additional investment of at least EUR 315bn by 2018. EFSI is implemented by the
EIB Group and projects supported by it are subject to usual EIB procedures.
73. Targets of Renewable Energy Directive

o 15% biomass
o 40% renewable energy
o 20% efficiency gains by 2020
o 30% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions

This might be the answer but a bit strange formulation.

The Renewable Energy Directive establishes an overall policy for the production and promotion of energy from renewable
sources in the EU. It requires the EU to fulfil at least 20% of its total energy needs with renewables by 2020 – to be achieved
through the attainment of individual national targets. All EU countries must also ensure that at least 10% of their transport fuels
come from renewable sources by 2020.

International organisations

74. Which are the EFTA countries?

o The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) is a regional trade organisation and free trade area consisting of
four European states: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.

75. One question on the Andean community

o The Andean Community (Spanish: Comunidad Andina, CAN) is a customs union comprising the South American
countries of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. The trade bloc was called the Andean Pact until 1996 and
came into existence when the Cartagena Agreement was signed in 1969. Its headquarters are in Lima, Peru.

76. Who has established the New Development Bank?

 o The New Development Bank (NDB), formerly referred to as the BRICS Development Bank, is a multilateral
development bank established by the BRICS states (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa).

77. Mercosur, which country is NOT a full member.

o Argentina
o Chile (it is an associate country)
o Uruguay
o Venezuela

78. EFTA, which country is NOT a member?

o Sweden

79. Who leads the Atalanta mission to fight piracy around the Horn of Africa ?

o NATO-leading
o US-leading
o UK-leading
o EU

80. US National Science Foundation

o The National Science Foundation (NSF) is a United States government agency that supports fundamental
research and education in all the non-medical fields of science and engineering. Its medical counterpart is the
National Institutes of Health. With an annual budget of about US$7.0 billion (fiscal year 2012), the NSF funds
approximately 24% of all federally supported basic research conducted by the United States' colleges and
universities.[3] In some fields, such as mathematics, computer science, economics, and the social sciences, the
NSF is the major source of federal backing.

81. What is the oldest regional organisation in Latin America?

o 1951, the governments of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua signed a new treaty
creating the Organization of Central American States (Organización de Estados Centroamericanos, or ODECA)
o In 1969 the Andean Pact was founded by Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador and Colombia. The name of the
organization was changed to the Andean Community of Nations (CAN) in 1996.
82. Which are the members of the ASEAN?

o As of 2010, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has 10 member states:
Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Myanmar (Burma), Cambodia, Laos, Brunei.

83. Which country is not part of the BRICS ?

o Brazil
o Russia
o Indonesia
o South Africa

Definitions
84. What does SWOT mean?

o SWOT analysis (alternatively SWOT matrix) is an acronym for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and
threats and is a structured planning method that evaluates those four elements of an organization, project or
business venture.

85. What is a conflict of interest in project evaluation?

 o When contracting independent experts, the Commission ensures - to the best of its knowledge - that you, as
an expert, do not have any conflicts of interest on the activity that you are being asked to undertake and, in
particular, any proposal or project you are called upon to assess.
o You should be independent, impartial and objective, and behave professionally at all times.

86. What is Red Tape?

o Red tape is an idiom that refers to excessive regulation or rigid conformity to formal rules that is considered
redundant or bureaucratic and hinders or prevents action or decision-making. It is usually applied to
governments, corporations, and other large organizations.

87. What is a green paper?

o Green Papers are documents published by the European Commission to stimulate discussion on given topics at
European level. They invite the relevant parties (bodies or individuals) to participate in a consultation process
and debate on the basis of the proposals they put forward. Green Papers may give rise to legislative
developments that are then outlined in White Papers.

88. What is a white paper?

o European Commission White Papers are documents containing proposals for European Union (EU) action in a
specific area. In some cases, they follow on from a Green Paper published to launch a consultation process at
EU level.

o The purpose of a White Paper is to launch a debate with the public, stakeholders, the European Parliament
and the Council in order to arrive at a political consensus. The Commission’s 1985 White Paper on the
completion of the internal market is an example of a blueprint that was adopted by the Council and resulted in
the adoption of wide-ranging legislation in this field

89. What is a yellow paper?

o Yellow Paper is a formal paper that is used for research. It is type of thesis or research paper on specific topic
and doesn’t have any legal or authorised value.

90. What is the Luxembourg compromise?

o The Luxembourg Compromise (or "Luxembourg Accord") was an agreement reached in January 1966 to
resolve the "empty chair crisis" which had caused a stalemate within European Economic Community.
o In July 1965, intergovernmentalist Charles De Gaulle boycotted European institutions due to issues he had
regarding new political proposals by the European Commission. This event, known as The Empty Chair Crisis,
affected the European Community. Several issues regarding European political integration led to The Empty
Chair Crisis. De Gaulle believed that national governments should move towards integration and did not agree
with the Commission's attempt to create a shift towards supranationalism, extending powers beyond national
borders.

91. When you negotiate but know that you won't accept the result of the negotiation, your negotiation strategy is:

o Bargain
o Bad faith
o Malevolence
o Bad Game

Bad faith is a concept in negotiation theory whereby parties pretend to reason to reach settlement, but have no intention to do
so, for example, one political party may pretend to negotiate, with no intention to compromise, for political effect.
92. Gentlemen agreement vs win-win negotiations

o A win–win game is a game which is designed in a way that all participants can profit from it in one way or the
other. In conflict resolution, a win–win strategy is a collaborative strategy and conflict resolution process that
aims to accommodate all participants.
 o The essence of a gentlemen's agreement is that it relies upon the honor of the parties for its fulfillment,
rather than being in any way enforceable. It is, therefore, distinct from a legal agreement or contract,
which can be enforced if necessary.

93. What does "triple helix" means?

o A pull of experts from university/administration/industry

o Cooperation between higher education institutions, industry and government
o Convergence between natural sciences, social sciences and engineering

94. What is the Bologna process?

o The Bologna Process is a series of ministerial meetings and agreements between European countries to ensure
comparability in the standards and quality of higher-education qualifications.

95. What is a Sherpa in international politics:

o A sherpa is the personal representative of a head of state or government who prepares an international
summit, particularly the annual G8 Summit.

96. What is a direct vote by citizens required by constitution or politically decided:

o Referendum (among other options in the list)

97. What is the large-scale IT system for security freedom and justice called ?

o eu-LISA,
o Frontex
o EUROJUST
o Emmdca

98. What is not a valid EU declaration or statement ?

o Statement by HRVP
o declaration by HRVP on behalf of the EU
o statement by spokesperson of HRVP
o statement by EU DEL not approved by heads of delegations of MSs in the country

99. Art 5 TFEU refers to the principle of :

o conferral, subsidiarity and reciprocity

o conferral, subsidiarity, proportionality
o none of the above