European union test III

What is the Union’s highest judicial authority?
The Court of Justice of the European Communities

The Commission acts:
a) By a simple majority of its members
b) By a simple majority of the members present
c) By a qualified majority of its members
d) By a qualified majority of the members present

Which of the following programmes or instruments is NOT concerned with candidate countries for enlargement?
a) SAPARD
b) ISPA
c) TACIS
d) PHARE

The general budget of the European Union is governed by a number of general rules. Which of the following is NOT one of those general rules?
a) The rule of unity
b) The rule of equilibrium
c) The rule of compensation
d) The rule of universality

The Court of Auditors: Examines the accounts of all revenue and expenditure of the European Community

In 2001 formal negotiations to enter the EU had not started with:
a) Bulgaria
b) Croatia
c) Estonia
d) Cyprus

Who is the High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy? The Secretary General of the Council of the European Union

Officials of the European Communities: Can be removed from their posts on disciplinary grounds in connection with the performance of their duties or private activities, and on the grounds of incompetence

Under the co-operation procedure for legislation, if the European Parliament rejects the Council’s common position:
a) The proposed act is deemed not to have been adopted
b) The President of the Council convenes the Conciliation Committee
c) The so-called “comitology” are initiated
d) Unanimity is required for the Council to act

Which of the following statements concerning the Community Ombudsman is NOT correct:
a) The Ombudsman does not handle matters that are the subject of proceedings before a court
b) The Ombudsman cannot investigate complaints concerning national authorities
c) Individuals cannot lodge complaints with the Ombudsman direct; they must first approach an MEP
d) The Ombudsman does not handle cases that have already been decided by a court

Which Member States will chair the Council during 2003?
a) Greece followed by Italy
b) Italy followed by Greece
c) Greece followed by Ireland
d) Italy followed by the Netherlands

Which of the following areas is NOT the subject of one of the European Community’s policies?
a) Agriculture
b) International Trade
c) Competition
d) Defence

Which of the following texts introduced for the first time an article which deals expressly with environmental issues?
The Treaty of Maastricht

The treaty of Nice states that, in certain fields, the Council will, from now on, take decisions by qualified majority vote. In which one of the fields listed below will the principle of unanimity continue to apply?

a) Industrial policy
b) Economic, financial and technical co-operation with non-member countries
c) Taxation
d) The status of political parties at European level

Which of the following countries does not form part of the Schengen area?
a) Ireland
b) Iceland
c) Austria
d) Finland

The “Troika” means:
The current Council presidency, the previous presidency and the next presidency

The bureau of the European Parliament consists of:
The President, the Vice-Presidents and the Questors