MCQ 2009

Dear competitors,

I found at http://www.epsoforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=657 a list of fresh questions from these days exams.
(“I can tell you some of these questions were at AD and AST Security CBTs.”)
I am going to write in the following questions + answers. After reading these mcq I’m really shocked :O… I do not know more than 70% … I hope we can together find the right answers.
…not finished…

1. Who appoints the Ombudsman?

The European Parliament shall appoint an Ombudsman. http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/European_Ombudsman

2. Which region received the largest part of the ECHO aid in 2006?!? ACP

Total aid allocated in 2006: 671 million. Main aid recipients: ACP countries (322 million / 48%), Eastern Europe, the Mediterranean, the Middle East and the New Independent States (177.9 million / 27%), Latin America and Asia (105.5 million / 16%).

http://europa.eu/scadplus/leg/en/lvb/r13011.htm

3. Who are the members of the CoR?

Committee on Organization and Rules (COR) ? or The Committee of the Regions (CoR) ? It is composed of 344 representatives from local and regional authorities, appointed by the Council for four years.

http://europa.eu/scadplus/glossary/committee_regions_en.htm

4. Millenium Development Goals? (when signed or established by whom)

The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are eight goals to be achieved by 2015 that respond to the world's main development challenges. The MDGs are drawn from the actions and targets contained in the Millennium Declaration that was adopted by 189 nations-and signed by 147 heads of state and governments during the UN Millennium Summit in September 2000.
http://www.undp.org/mdg/basics.shtml

5. What financial rates the ECB cannot regulate???

I have no idea ?!!!?!!??!?!!!??! What do you think?


6. Who appoints the ECB board?

The President of the ECB and the other five members of the Executive Board are appointed by the Council for a non-renewable term of eight years.
http://ec.europa.eu/bulgaria/abc/eu_works/institutions/european-central-bank_en.htm


7. Combined space project?

Thanks "Merce" for suggestions

GALILEO is the joint project of the European Commission and the European Space Agency to deploy a new infrastructure based on a 30-satellite constellation, to provide positioning and timing services. Currently there are two radio navigation satellites in the world: American (GPS) and Russian (Glonass). Both were designed as military systems, but the GALILEO system appears to offer the only real alternative to the American system.
Galileo will allow users equipped with a receiver to determine their position with great accuracy in real time. The programme comprises 30 satellites to be placed in orbit from 2006 onwards and ground stations to relay the signals to the users.
Among the other sectors which may benefit from applications of the Galileo programme are: the social services (assistance for the disabled and the elderly), justice and customs (border controls), search and rescue (navigation at sea and in mountainous terrain) and agriculture (precise management of large agricultural areas). The Galileo system should be fully functional by 2010.

GALILEO SERVICES
The various service requirements and the associated commercial and security aspects can be rationalised into five distinct service groups:
- Open Services (OS)
- Commercial Services (CS)
- Safety-Of-Life Services (SAS)
- Public Regulated Services (PRS)
- Search-And-Rescue Services (SAR)
In addition, Navigation Related Communication Service (NRS) will be implemented under the Commercial Service frame. Furthermore, Combined Services will be implemented, such as:
GALILEO combined with GPS and augmented by EGNOS, so called GALILEO-GPS-EGNOS Services
GALILEO services combined with services provided by Local ComponentsCombined GALILEO and GMS, UMTS services.

8. Which country concluded the negotiations but did not join the EU?

“Merce” solved it:
1994:
March: EU accession negotiations with Norway and the three other candidate countries end.
24-25 June, Acts of Accession of Austria, Sweden, Finland and Norway are signed.

28 November: A majority of Norwegian voters (52.2 percent) reject membership of the EU.

9. Decision on CAP until 2013?

??? HELP

10. Can the Court of Auditors sanction based on irregularities or fraud found?

??? HELP

11. Role of the European Research Agency?

The Research Executive Agency (REA) is being set up in Brussels in order to manage a large part of the Seventh Framework Programme for Research, Technological Development and Demonstration Activities (FP7).


12. Role of Executive Agencies?

Tasks
The role of executive agencies is to implement one or more Community programmes. They may be responsible for the following main tasks:
- managing and supervising all the phases of projects;
- adopting budget implementation measures and awarding contracts and grants;
- gathering, analysing and passing on to the Commission all the information needed to implement the programmes. They may not perform tasks entailing political choices.

http://europa.eu/scadplus/leg/en/lvb/l10120.htm

German:
Aufgaben
Eine Exekutivagentur hat die Aufgabe, ein oder mehrere Gemeinschaftsprogramme durchzuführen. Der Exekutivagentur können insbesondere folgende Aufgaben übertragen werden:
- Verwaltung und Kontrolle der Phasen des Projekts
- Annahme der Rechtsakte für den Haushaltsvollzug und Vergabe von Aufträgen und Subventionen
- Erhebung und Analyse aller für die Durchführung des Gemeinschaftsprogramms erforderlichen Informationen und Weiterleitung an die Kommission
- Die Exekutivagentur kann keine Aufgaben übernehmen, die einen Ermessensspielraum zur Umsetzung politischer Entscheidungen voraussetzen
- Die Kommission legt in der Übertragungsverfügung die Bedingungen, Kriterien, Parameter und Modalitäten für die Aufgaben der Exekutivagentur fest.

13. When was the decision taken on the form of the election of the MEPs?

??? WHEN

14. Who wrote the EU anthem?

This is the anthem not only of the European Union but also of Europe in a wider sense. The melody comes from the Ninth Symphony composed in 1823 by Ludwig Van Beethoven.
For the final movement of this symphony, Beethoven set to music the "Ode to Joy" written in 1785 by Friedrich von Schiller. This poem expresses Schiller's idealistic vision of the human race becoming brothers - a vision Beethoven shared.
http://europa.eu/abc/symbols/anthem/index_en.htm

German:
Dies ist die Hymne nicht nur der Europäischen Union, sondern Europas in einem weiteren Sinne. Die Melodie ist der Neunten Symphonie Ludwig van Beethovens von 1823 entnommen.
Mit dem letzten Satz dieser Symphonie vertonte Beethoven die "Ode an die Freude" von Friedrich von Schiller aus dem Jahr 1785. Dieses Gedicht entsprang Schillers idealistischer Vision der Menschen, die zu Brüdern werden - einer Vision, die Beethoven teilte.

15. Who is Solana?

Javier Solana:

High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy,Secretary-General of the Council of the European Union
http://www.consilium.europa.eu/App/Solana/default.aspx?lang=EN&cmsid=246

16. In which country/where is the geografical center of the EU?

Romania and Bulgaria joined the European Union this week (2007), shifting the geographical center of the EU 110 miles to the east. That happens to be a wheat field outside Gelnhausen, a small town northeast of Frankfurt, Germany.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6735426

17. Seat of the Court of Justice is in… ?

Luxembourg

18. Program PROGRESS

PROGRESS is the EU's employment and social solidarity programme. It was established to support financially the implementation of the objectives of the European Union in employment, social affairs and equal opportunities, as set out in the Social Agenda. It also contributes to the achievement of the EU 'Lisbon' Growth and Jobs Strategy.

http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=327&langId=en

19. First president of the Commission

Walter Hallstein was the first president of the European Commission from 1958 to 1969.

20. What summit was for the European Convention?

By dawnglitters: Laeken Summit
http://europa.eu/scadplus/glossary/european_convention_en.htmhttp://www.yes-campaign.net/index.php?id=1662

"Laeken Declaration on the future of the European Union": http://european-convention.eu.int/pdf/LKNEN.pdf

German: Welcher Gipfeltreffen bezieht sich auf dem Europaeischen Konvent?

„Erklärung von Laeken zur Zukunft der Europäischen Union" / Schwerpunkte der Erklaerung: Demokratie, Transparenz und Effizienz der EU.

21. Who has right of initiative

European commission

22. How many MEPs

785

After June 2009: 736

23. EU Military Staff attributions:

???

24. The form of the complaint to the Ombudsman (written, fax, email, etc)

How to contact the European Ombudsman
By mail
By telephone
By fax
By e-mail
Website

Wie kann man sich mit dem Europäischen Bürgerbeauftragten in Verbindung setzen?
Per Post
Per Telefon
Per Fax
Per E-Mail
Internetseite

http://bookshop.europa.eu/eubookshop/bookmarks.action?target=EUB:NOTICE:QK7205015:BG:HTML&request_locale=BG

25. Another condition for the complaint to the Ombudsman (registered mail etc)

???

26. The task of the Joint Research Centre (manage countries research budgets, scientific support and assistance for … etc)

27. The CFSP is implemented by …

28. The non-nuclear research was specifically introduced by which Treaty?
this is a very difficult question...

by Merce: I think it's the Single European Act: http://europa.eu/scadplus/treaties/singleact_en.htm

I agree. Single European Act, 3rd Framework Programme (1991-1994) / FP3. http://www.ehto.org/aim/volume1/initiatives.html (check point 7)

29. The main task of ECB is (price stability, differentiate among interest rates etc)

The ECB’s main task is to maintain the euro's purchasing power and thus price stability in the euro area.

http://www.ecb.int/ecb/html/index.en.html

30. Not among the tasks of ECB to fix (Lombard rate, discount rate, inflation rate, overnight rate)

are u a bank expert ;)

31. The High Representative for the CFSP is…? (SG of the Commission, of the Council, etc)
TROIKA

32. The right to propose modifications to the Treaties (Commission, Parliament, Gov. of MS etc)

?

33. Under the common commercial policy, the responsibility for monitoring the safeguard clauses rests with … (Commission collegially, the commissioner responsible for the internal market, etc)

with ... ?

34. The ESDP means (European Security and Defence Policy, Economic Stability and Development Policy etc)

European Security and Defence Policy

35. The role of European Food Safety Authority is (to detect smells and ? of risky food (sic), to authorize risky food products such as GMOs, to do scientific assessment …, etc)

EFSA’s remit covers food and feed safety, nutrition, animal health and welfare, plant protection and plant health.

German: Die Europäische Behörde für Lebensmittelsicherheit (EFSA) erstellt wissenschaftliche Gutachten und Empfehlungen.
Aufgabenbereich: Lebensmittel- und Futtermittelsicherheit, Ernährung, Tiergesundheit und Tierschutz sowie Pflanzengesundheit und Pflanzenschutz.

http://www.efsa.europa.eu/EFSA/efsa_locale-1178620753812_AboutEfsa.htm

37. MS may take stricter action than defined in the Treaties in which area (no area under the Community initiative, the environment etc.)

??? HELP

36. The European citizenship was introduced by which Treaty?

Maastricht Treaty

38. “Euregio” is the name of ... (an agency, a regional cross-border neighbourhood cooperation programme, a European regional/structural fund, etc);

EN: EVALUATION OF CROSS BORDER ACTIVITIES IN THE EUROPEAN UNION
DE: EVALUATION GRENZÜBERSCHREITENDER AKTIVITÄTEN IN DER EUROPÄISCHEN UNION

39. European Court of Human Rights is …(a body of the Council of Europe, a organism of the International Court of Justice, etc.)

40. The organism that provides the necessary impetus in defining the general political guidelines of the European Union is … (European Council, Council of EU etc.)

41. Which country of the ten “new” MS did not implement the border and port standards as according to the Schengen agreement (Poland, Cyprus, Malta, Hungary)

42. The following are candidate countries… (Croatia and Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey and Israel, etc.)

Croatia, FYROM, Turkey

43. The members of the ECB are appointed by … (Parliament, Member States etc.)

The President of the ECB and the other five members of the Executive Board are appointed by the Council for a non-renewable term of eight years.

44. The appointment of President, VP and the 4 members, of the ECB; (by governments of MS, by the Governing Council, etc)

The President of the ECB and the other five members of the Executive Board are appointed by the Council for a non-renewable term of eight years.

45. Seat of the Court of Justice (Lux)

Luxembourg

46.EU Commissions fined Microsoft for … (breaking the competition laws)

EN: Breaking competition laws
DE: Die EU-Kommission hat nach eigenen Angaben mit rechtlichen Schritten gegen den Software-Konzern Microsoft begonnen. Grund für das neue Verfahren ist ein alter Streit über die Bündelung des Web-Browsers Internet Explorer mit dem Betriebssystem Windows.
Die Kommission kritisiert nach eigenen Angaben, dass die Bündelung den Wettbewerb zwischen verschiedenen Webbrowsern behindert, Produktinnovation erschwert und letztlich die Auswahl der Kunden vermindert.

47. EU Commissioner for Agriculture...

Agriculture and rural development Commissioner: Mariann Fischer Boel
Date of Birth: 15/04/1943
Place of Birth: Aasum, Funen, Denmark
Nationality: Denmark

48. Council of European Union (each Member State has one representant at ministerial level)

The ministers of the Member States meet within the Council of the European Union.
The Council is the main decision-making body of the European Union.
Depending on the issue on the agenda, each country will be represented by the minister responsible for that subject (foreign affairs, finance, social affairs, transport, agriculture, etc.).

German: Die Minister der Mitgliedstaaten tagen im Rahmen des Rates der Europäischen Union.
Der Rat ist das wichtigste politische Entscheidungsorgan der Europäischen Union.
Je nach den Themenbereichen, die auf der Tagesordnung stehen, kann jedes Land dort von einem für den betreffenden Bereich verantwortlichen Minister vertreten werden (äußere Angelegenheiten, Finanzen, Soziales, Verkehr, Landwirtschaft, etc.).

http://www.consilium.europa.eu/showPage.aspx?id=242&lang=en

49. EU Parliament's President term is… 2,5 ???

50. Leonardo da Vinci (vocational training)

The Leonardo da Vinci programme links policy to practice in the field of vocational education and training (VET).

German: Das Programm "Leonardo da Vinci" sorgt für die Verknüpfung von Politik und Praxis auf dem Feld der beruflichen Bildung.

http://ec.europa.eu/education/lifelong-learning-programme/doc82_en.htm

51. Treaty on EU (not repealed ECSC, TEC and Euratom)

52. European Communities are... (ECSC, EEC, Euratom)

53. EU & European Space agency common project (Galileo)

54. What is ITER?

55. Governing Council of the ECB consists of …

56. What ECB does not?

57. Lome IV was replaced by...

58. European Development Fund is for...

59. Which one is not a Copenhagen criteria?

60. Who apply the EU policies?

61. Who elects the members of CoR?

by tenzin: The Council of the European Union, under propositions from the member states

62. Which price is not established by the Council (indicative, treshold, intervention, maxim)?

63. Established in 1998, to support the Court of Justice activity (Court of First Instance)

64. What Court of Justice does not:... (wrong answer: conflicts between EU citizens)

65. What Court of auditors does?

66. Fines imposed on a cartel in the domain of... (elevators)

67. Who has the last word regarding the expenditure issuing from the treaties and other EU regulations?

68. What is EDC?

by tenzin: European Defense Community, project rejected by France in 1954

69. What is Ioannina clause?

EN: The compromise lays down that if members of the Council representing between 23 votes (the old blocking minority threshold) and 26 votes (the new threshold) express their intention of opposing the taking of a decision by the Council by qualified majority, the Council will do all within its power, within a reasonable space of time, to reach a satisfactory solution that can be adopted by at least 68 votes out of 87. Following the re-weighting of votes in the Council of Ministers, the Treaty of Nice puts an end to the Ioannina compromise.

DE: Der Kompromiss sieht folgendes vor: Wenn Ratsmitglieder, die zwischen 23 (frühere Sperrminorität) und 26 (neue Sperrminorität) Stimmen haben, signalisieren, dass sie eine Mehrheitsentscheidung des Rates ablehnen, wird der Rat alles daran setzen, um innerhalb einer angemessenen Frist zu einer zufriedenstellenden Lösung zu gelangen, die mit mindestens 68 von 87 Stimmen gebilligt werden kann. Aufgrund der neuen Stimmengewichtung im Ministerrat werden die Bestimmungen des Kompromisses von Ioannina durch den Vertrag von Nizza gegenstandslos.

http://europa.eu/scadplus/glossary/ioannina_compromise_en.htm

70. Who among the following people didn't win the Sakharov prize (Mandela, Rushdie etc.)

Rushdie

71. Which EU capital in in the further east… (Tallinn, Nicosia etc.)?