Exam Questions

Question 1

In what year did Romania and Bulgaria join the EU?

Answer 1

2007

Question 2

Name three tasks of the European Commission.

Answer 2

1. The management of European programs
2. Monitoring national budgets
3. Developing proposals for legislation

Question 3

What roles does the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy fulfill?

Name three

Answer 3

1. Chair of the Foreign Policy Council
2. Head of the European External Action Service
3. Vice-President of the Commission

Question 4

How many countries are in a blocking majority?

Answer 4

At least 4

Question 5

Are Commissioners allowed to follow orders from their national government?

Answer 5

No

Question 6

Who nominates commissioners?

Answer 6

Member states

Question 7

What is the infringement procedure?

Answer 7

Happens if a country does not follow European law

Question 8

Who appoints the president of the European Commission?

Answer 8

The European Parliament

Question 9

What is the object of legitimacy?

Answer 9

The part that delivers it

Question 10

Why does Follesdal argue that democratization should be more important than effective problem solving?

Name three

Answer 10

1. Nondemocratic arrangements are unreliable and insufficiently responsive, which undermines trust
2. Democratic regimes offer channels to protest, which generate support
3. Effective problem-solving requires trust which democratic institutions generate

Question 11

What is the Country of Origin principle?

Answer 11

The idea that companies should follow the regulations of their home country (when they are doing their work there), instead of the regulations of the country in which their client is located

Question 12

How was EU legislation regarding cartels refomed in 2004?

Answer 12

The competition rules would now be enforced by local competition agencies

Question 13

When is state aid allowed?

Answer 13

1. Small amounts, for a limited time
2. To promote culture and or protect national heritage
3. If it is part of a European program

Question 14

Name three characteristics of the EMU that have contributed to the Euro crisis.

Answer 14

1. The European Union lacks a system of income redistribution between member states, which can counter the unequal economic development of countries of the union.
2. At the start of EMU, the exchange rates of the Northern countries were underrated, those of the Southern countries were overrated, which created a competitive advantage for the Northern countries.
3. EMU established a supranational arrangement for monetary policies, but did not create a supranational arrangement for economic policies.

Question 15

What is a regulatory state?

Answer 15

In a regulatory state decisions are predominantly taken by independent agencies, led by non- elected experts

Question 16

Name two elements of reforms of the Common Agricultural Policy after 1992.

Answer 16

1. The gradual substitution of the system of market intervention by direct income support for farmers.
2. The introduction of subsidies to promote sustainable agriculture.

Question 17

Which agreement between the ACP countries and the EU was signed in 2000?

Answer 17

Cotonou Agreement

Question 18

Is the CCP an internal or external policy?

Answer 18

Both

Question 19

When was the European Development Fund set up? What was its goal?

Answer 19

1957, to provide development aid to (former) colonies

Question 20

Can the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the Commission decide on miliary or civilian missions of the EU, or can they make final decisions on trade agreements?

Answer 20

No

Question 21

Schuman is was the fromer … foreign minister.

Answer 21

French

Question 22

What theory did De Gaulle cite when he refused British EU membership?

Answer 22

Intergovernmentalism

Question 23

How does the European Commission take decisions?

I.e. what voting system?

Answer 23

A simple majority

Question 24

Does a Customs Union have free movement?

Answer 24

No neccesarily

Question 25

What introduced Mutual Recognition?

Answer 25

A ruling by the Court of Justice

Question 26

Can the Commission decide on sanctions against members with excessive deficits?

Answer 26

No

Question 27

Who negotiates Trade Agreements?

Answer 27

The European Commission

Question 28

Who decides on the distribution of portefolio’s among the commisioners?

Answer 28

The President of the Commission