A Booklet for

On

European and International Matters

Formator drd. Sebastian CHIRIMBU

2007
______________________________________________
FOREWORD

The European Union means many things to many people. For some it has been at the core of
efforts to help maintain peace over the past 50 years in a continent which in the past has been
riven by the rivalry and suspicion. For others, the EU is primarily about the single market and the
opportunities and benefits this presents to businesses, students, pensioners and holidaymakers.
For others, the EU is more than just a sum of its parts.
But what does it mean or what will it mean for us, the Romanians? It might mean the end of
transition, the beginning of a new stage in hour history, the recognition of our efforts to leave
behind the past and to become a European country, more than geographically. And especially our
hope that the EU will offer opportunities and not restrictions…

The present handbook is an auxiliary to the eight training dossiers we have prepared within the
project “Strengthening the Administrative Capacity of the Romanian Parliament” ending two
months before Romania`s accession to the EU. The book aims not only to assist the work of
practicioners dealing with the EU in their daily work, but also to offer a background in the field
both to future public servants working for the Romanian Parliament and to students or applicants
who attempt to pass the open competitions in order to become a full-fledge official of the
European Union. We wanted to compile a guide that could meet the expactations of all those
interested in European integration; we wanted to provide a comprehensive view of the European
Union, to help our trainees understand the present but also the future direction of the European
Union.

I would like to thank my collegues from the Romanian Parliament I have worked with during the
interractive seminars, my collegues from the College of Europe, Mr. Søeren Bork and Ms.
Andreea Comşa for offering me the opportunity to work in an international team - European
Consultants Organisation and East West Consulting.

Sebastian Chirimbu
January 2007

1
Table of contents
Chapter Page

Chapter 1 History of Europrean Integration 4

1.1 Introduction
1.2 The European Integration Process in a Historical Perspective
1.3 The Foundations
1.4 The Main Institutions and actors in the EU`s policy and decision- making process
Chapter 2 Theories of European Integration 9
2.1 Introduction
2.2 European integration
2.3 The Intellectual Background
2.4 International Relations Theories of European Integration
Chapter 3 Key Points on EU`s Institutions 12
3.1 Introduction
3.2 The Treaties
3.3 The Decision-Making Institutions
3.4 The Pillars
3.5 The Commission
3.6 The European Parliament
3.7 The Council
3.8 The European Court of Justice
3.9 The European Court of Auditors
Chapter 4 European Union`s Policies 18
4.1 Introduction
4.2 The Budget of the European Union
4.3 The Common Market
4.4 Common Agricultural Policy
4.5 Regional Policy
4.6 Environmental Policy
4.7 Economic and Monetary Policy
4.8 Social and Employment
4.9 Justice and Home Affairs
4.10 Common Foreign and Security Policy
4.11 External Trade and Development Policy
Chapter 5 The European Union at a Crossroads 28

2
 5.1 Introduction
5.2 The European Union- a growing family
5.3 The New Member States (2004- 2007)
5.4 Elections in the European Parliament
5.5 The New Commission
5.6 Progress on the Lisbon Strategy
5.7 Ratifying the Constitutional Treaty
Chapter 6 Economy of the European Union 34
6.1 Introduction
6.2 The Economics of the European Union Market
6.3 The Economics of EU Competition Policy
6.4 Trade Policies of the European Union
6.5 Regional Policy in the European Union
Chapter 7 European Union Law 48
7.1 Introduction
7.2 The Creation of a Union Legal Order
7.3 The Community Legal Order
7.4 The Charter of Fundamental Rights
Chapter 8 International Communication
8.1 Introduction
8.2 Approaches to theorizing International Communication
8.3 Internation Communication Theory in Transition- Parameters of a New Global
Public Sphere
8.4 Eurobarometer nowadays
8.5 Political Public Relations
8.6 Mass Media and Communication
Chapter 9 The European Union at the Beginning of the 21st century 69

Appendix EU Chronology in a Nutschel 74

1
Appendix Multiple Choice Items 76
2
Answers 88
Recommended Bibliography and websites 91

3
 CONCLUSION

THE EUROPEAN UNION

AT THE BEGINNING OF THE 21st CENTURY
_______________________________________________________________________

The globalising world economy, the re-drafting of the global economic map, the appearance of
new competitors, changes in international political relations and other global challenges have not
only modified the external conditions of the EU’s development but they have also impacted on the
relations of Member State interests. At the beginning of the 21st century, we are witnessing the
rearrangement of power centres in the global economy. One of the main influencing factors in this
process is the changing role and competitive status of the European Union in the global economy,
with particular regard to the new Member States. In the global system of the 21st century the
conditions of EU development have been substantially modified. In the last period of the 20th
century, the unity of global capitalism was re-established and the capitalist world market became a
global system again. However, the global system which evolved by the beginning of the 21st
century differs in several areas and to a significant extent from the capitalism whose unity was first
broken by the October Revolution in Russia, then by the social changes and changes in the power
structure that ensued after the Second World War. The global capitalism of the 21st century as a
system is substantially more diverse then it was at the beginning of the previous century. The
social and economic changes in the 19th and 20th century resulted in the American-type of
regulated free market economy. In Western Europe the social market economy emerged while the
co-operative corporative market economy became dominant in Asia. Various hybrids have
developed in the developing world and in former socialist countries. In the different genres and
reincarnations of capitalism, historical and social specificities, development gaps and other
economic features play a significant role. These models influence the character and factors of
global competition considerably. In the course of the transformation nearly two billion producers
and consumers formerly active outside the capitalist world market were integrated into the market
system. This also facilitated the evolution of a new era of global economic development by the
21st century. This is indicated by the transformation of its regional structure. One of the main signs
of these changes is the rapid growth in the weighting of Asia in global production and international
trade, as well as in capital flows. The region is characterised by ever-increasing global competition
and new forms of co-operation. How the EU will prevail in the coming decade among the

4
‘heavyweight’ competitors of the global economy will depend on the cumulative effect of various
factors. The growth rate of the GNP is only one of these factors. Due to the accession of new
Member States, the EU has diversified further as well, ethnically and economically.

European integration had started before integration theory gained popularity. One has to bear in
mind, however, that the idea of European integration was launched with modest objectives in the
1950s. Except for some visionary statesmen, like Jean Monnet and some others, both the subject
matters to be covered by integration and the geographical scope was limited. Six countries aimed
at establishing a free trade zone and not much else was on their "plate" when they signed the
Rome Treaty on 25 March 1957.
Since then it has been a success story of Europe in many senses of the word.
- It has deepened economic interdependence among the member states, their trade relations
and investments are directed to each other to a much larger extent than before;
- It is another aspect of the same matter that the difference between the level of economic
development of the member countries has diminished through a central redistribution
mechanism;
- Its scope of activity has extended to related areas which facilitate further economic integration.
The free movement of persons, services, the introduction of common currency and the future
reduction of agricultural subsidies, though the interpretation of those steps may vary, serve for
the global competitiveness of the EU and its members;
- It has also expanded to areas which only indirectly affect the core of the integration process,
like cooperation in home (primarily police) affairs, and the concept of common foreign and
security policy;
- The number of member states has increased from 6 to 15 in 38 years and plans exist to
continue the process;
- It is of similar importance that no state of Europe can escape to define its relations with the EU
any longer. The Union has become one of the centres of gravity of the evolution of Europe.
The achievements of the EC/EU in the last four decades are remarkable and reflected in the fact
that the EU can no longer be described with the categories which are traditionally used for
international organisations. The supranational nature of the EU helps understand the institutional
relations between the Union and its members. No doubt, in certain areas supranationality is
resented by certain members. Again in other areas one can conclude that the EU starts
resembling of a confederation. The introduction of the common currency and later the plan to
harmonise some tax levels show into that direction. Even though the tendency can formally still be
denied as the major decisions of the process are taken by the Council where heads of states and
governments assemble at the meetings. Consequently, member states decide on the strategic
issues. The activity of the European Central Bank shows in the opposite direction, however. On
5
the basis of the process one can deny the supranational character of the European Union but at
least as far as its first pillar is concerned supranationality is undeniable as far as the substance is
concerned.
The European Economic Community/Union has evolved unevenly throughout the last decades.
Ideas appeared and remained to be put into practice for years, sometimes decades. Many of
those ideas which are to be put into practice nowadays have been floating around since the 1950s
or the 1970s. The idea of common defence belongs to the former, common currency to the latter.
It is important to see clearly, however, that prosperous activities have concentrated in those areas
which are more closely linked to the original economic objectives of the EC.
There is no reason to doubt that emphasis will continue to be put on those areas which are
closely related to the economic development of the Union or at least belong to the periphery of
economic activity. This results in a situation familiar in history that the "strong leg" of the European
Union gets even stronger whereas the weak ones do not grow muscle.

Considerations for the Future

The European Union has practically expanded the four freedoms on which it has been based to all
its member countries by the late 1990s. The free movement of goods, persons, capital and
services are guaranteed among the fifteen, the transition periods have expired. Consequently, the
Union can look ahead and focus its attention on its most important agenda points. They are only
indirectly related to the external political role of the Union, though certain aspects of EU foreign
policy are high on the agenda. Bearing in mind the heavy workload the issues on the priority list
represent it is likely that there will be issues, among them some of the controversial ones which
will be put to the back-burner. One can take it for granted that the deepening of cooperation in the
area of common foreign and security policy will be among them.
On the priority list the following topics will certainly appear:
- The continuation of institutional reform and the reduction of the so-called democratic deficit;
- The introduction of the common currency, completing the development agreed upon in the
Maastricht Treaty;
- The reform of the budget of the EU including the new financial perspective, the reform of the
agricultural policy, and (co-)financing the development of the future members of the Union;
- The definition of the role of the EU in the world at large, including enlargement, pre-accession
strategy, the transatlantic dialogue, the relationship with countries neighbouring the Union, and
the exchange initiated not long ago with Asia.
In the traditional sense of the word those matters have not much to do with security. One can, of
course, start out from a broad, nearly all-embracing definition of security like the OSCE does and
then nearly all the above matters gain relevance in international security. It is necessary to remind
of the uneven evolution of European integration. There are periods when European integration

6
moves forward very quickly and there are years when the achievements are stabilised, or some
identified as blind alleys.
Since the Maastricht Treaty it seems not much happened in treaty-making. The norms adopted in
the Amsterdam Treaty reflected much more that the "parties agreed to differ" on some major
issues than anything else.
The evolution of the Union in the last seven years or so took place primarily in the implementation
of the economic and monetary union, in the consolidation of the movement of foreigners in the
territory of the EU and its contribution to the stabilisation of the area adjacent to the member
states.

At the beginning of the 21st century the European Union faces twin challenges: the institutional
challenge, linked to the processes of greater integration and expansion, and the structural
challenge, which will in the medium-run determine the place of the EU in the world.

The European Union has the best performance in areas which are related to the economic
integration of its member states and Europe as a whole. Its scope of activity has broadened
gradually and now extends also to areas which contribute to the general economic performance,
like the free movement of persons, cooperation in home affairs, etc. It has also established the
technical conditions for the functioning of the Union as a highly integrated economic area, ranging
from standardisation to the mutual recognition of diplomas and other degrees.

With the introduction of the Euro a major step has been taken in the direction of a multi-speed
Europe. As the institutional and decision-making system is conceived currently those countries
which will not join the Euro-zone forthwith will be highly motivated to get from the periphery to the
centre of the Union.
It has successfully integrated one and a half times more countries than the original number of
member states. Some countries which have not joined regard some regulations of the Union as
examples and adopt "mirror legislation". With its more than 370 million population, combined GDP
and an increasing number of European countries willing to join it has become the centre of gravity
of European economy and politics. Its contribution to European security is dependent upon the
definition of the term "security". It has certainly contributed to stability in Europe, for the first thirty
years of its existence in Western Europe and it has started to project it to the eastern half of the
continent in the last decade. Bearing in mind the number of countries which aspire for
membership, their historically weak democratic traditions and, more importantly, their relative
economic backwardness and low per capita GDP this process will be of decisive importance for
the evolution of the EU in the coming decades.

7
Enlargement and the introduction of the common currency will be the two decisive projects of the
EU in the coming decade or so. This will soon be followed by the harmonisation of direct tax
levels.
The European Communities/Union has always evolved unevenly. This will not be different in the
future either. Bearing in mind the complexity and the demanding character of the projects above
the EU will remain in a phase of consolidation and not launch major new projects. It is likely that
the contradictions between different member states on major issues like enlargement, the
financing of the Union, including the size of central redistribution through the EU budget, will get
sharper. This is a side-effect of the slowing pace of growth as well as of the fact that the third
phase of the EMU, the introduction of the common currency and the power of the ECB, weaken
the economic sovereignty of those member states which join the Euro-zone. Thus they will have to
find some "compensation" by reducing the central redistribution through the EU budget. It is
particularly unlikely that the EU would move ahead in areas which are not related to the major
projects, like the introduction of a high profile common security policy or common defence. Its
contribution to European security will continue to focus on the stability of the continent in the broad
sense of the word. Bearing in mind the character of some recent domestic conflicts and crises in
Europe it is clear that not only ethnic tension may undermine stability. There is no long-term
stability without some prosperity and peoples can react violently if they are deprived of the
prospect of prosperity. The Union and its member countries through spreading the methods of
effective governance and macro-economic management may make a subtle though essential
contribution to the stability of Europe.
During the period of consolidation of the achievements of the Union there will be voices in the EU
which give priority to the approach of subsidiarity that would reduce the power of the Union and
increase that of the member states. This will reduce the prospect of a major development of
common security and defence policy. The member states continue to remain sensitive about
relinquishing their influence in the perceived core of sovereignty, foreign policy and defence.
**
In addition to preparing and executing the new enlargement (or the Eastern enlargement) and
elaborating institutional reforms leading to a Constitutional Treaty, the evolution of the EU in the
early 21st century has been principally characterised by efforts aimed primarily at building an
economic and political union. Whithout these efforts, the enlarged Union and iots Member States
would be unable to maintain or strengthen their political and economic competitiveness in the
world. At the beginning of the 21st century, as the European Union is accomplishing its biggest
ever enlargement while facing its most critical ever political, economic and social challenges due
to the globalisation, harmonising the objectives of deepening and widening is more important than
ever before. The 50 years of European integration, however, prove that the process of deepening
and widening reinforce each other.

8
 APPENDIX 1
EU CHRONOLOGY IN A NUTSHELL
______________________________________________________________________________

1950
May Schuman Plan for coal and steel announced (Schuman Declaration)
November Council of Europe adopts European Convention on Human Rights
1951
April Treaty of Paris signed, establishing the European Coal and Steel Community
1952
May European Defence Community (EDC) Treaty signed in Paris
July ECSC begins operation
1953
September European Convention on Human Rights comes into force
1954
October Treaty creating Western European Union
1955
October Monnet sets up Action Committee for the United States of Europe
1957
April Treaties of Rome establishing the EEC and Euratom signed
1958
January EEC and Euratom begin operations
July CAP system of common prices agreed at Stresa conference
1959
January customs duties within the EEC cut by 10%
1961
August Britain, Ireland and Denmark apply for membership of the EC
December Commission convenes first conference on European regional policy
1962
April Norway applies to join the EEC
1967
July Sweden applies for EEC membership
1968
July Customs Union completed and common external tariff established
1969
December Hague summit: the relaunching of Europe
1970
June membership negotiations begin with Britain, Ireland, Denmark and Norway
1972
January completion of membership negotiations with Britain, Ireland, Denmark and Norway;
Accession Treaties signed
March European Parliament accepts Commission proposals for creation of EC regional policy
1973
January first enlargement of EC from six to nine member states
1975
March first European Council meeting in Dublin
June Greek application for membership of EC
1976
July Opening of Greek accession negotiations
1977
March Portuguese application for membership of the EC
July Spanish application for membership of the EC
9
1978
October Opening of accession negotiations with Portugal
1979
May Greek accession treaty signed
June first direct elections to the European Parliament
1981
January Greece becomes a member of the EC
1983
January Stuttgart European Council signs Solemn Declaration on European Union
1984
February European Parliament approves draft treaty on European Union
June Elections to European Parliament
1985
February Brussels European Council mandates Commission to produce a plan on the single
European market
June Portuguese and Spanish Accession Treaties signed
1986
January Portugal and Spain join the EC
February Single European Act signed by foreign ministers in Luxemburg (nine states) and
subsequently the Hague (the remaining three states)
1987
April Turkey applies for EC membership
July Single European Act comes into effect
1989
June elections to the European Parliament
1990
July stage one of Economic and Monetary Union begins; Cyprus and Malta apply for EC
membership
1991
July Sweden applies for EC membership
December Maastricht European Council agrees principles of Treaty on the European Union
1992
February Maastricht Treaty on European Union Signed
March Finland applies for EC membership
May Switzerland applies for EC membership
November Norway applies for EC membership
1994
January stage 2 of Economic and Monetary Union begins; start of European Economic and
Monetary area (EEA)
April Hungary and Poland apply for EU membership
June elections to European Parliament
1995
January Austria, Finland and Sweden Become members of the EU; Jacques Santer becomes
President of the European Commission; World Trade Organization (WTO) begins to operate
March a “Stability Pact signed by 52 states from western and eastern Europe in an attempt to
stabilize the political and security situation in eastern Europe
June Romania and Slovakia apply for EU membership
October Latvia applies for EU membership
November Estonia applies for EU membership
December Lithuania and Bulgaria apply for EU membership; Madrid European Council decides
on Euro as the name for the single currency
1996
January Czech Republic applies for EU membership
June Slovenia applies for EU membership
1997
October Treaty of Amsterdam signed
10
1998
March opening of accession negotiations with Cyprus, Czech Republic Estonia, Hungary Poland
and Slovenia
May special European Council meeting in Brussels to launch the single currency
1999
January the Euro comes into operation, although national notes and coins remain in circulation
until 2002
May Treaty of Amsterdam enters into force; Prodi becomes President of the Commission
June elections to European Parliament
2000
March special European Council held in Lisbon agrees to a new EU strategy on employment,
economic reform and social cohesion and makes a commitment to turn the EU into “the most
competitive knowledge-based economy in the world” by 2010
December Nice European Council agrees the Treaty of Nice and formally proclaims the Charter of
Fundamental Rights of the European Union
2002
January citizens start using Euro notes and coins in the twelve participating member states
2003
February Treaty of Nice enters into force
December proposals of the Constitutional Convention presented to the European Council
2004
May ten new member states join the EU
June elections to European parliament marked by record low turn-out; European Council
nominates Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Manuel Durao Baroso as the next President of the
Commission
December heads of the Commission agree to open negotiations with Turkey
2005
February Spanish people vote to approve the Constitutional Treaty
April Bulgaria and Romania sign Accession Treaties
May French people vote to reject the Constitutional Treaty
June Dutch people vote to reject the Constitutional Treaty

2007
January : Romania and Bulgaria have joined the European Union

11
 APPENDIX 2 – MULTIPLE CHOICE ITEMS

____ 1. What is Europe?

a. Geographically – a continent, a territory

b. A concept
c. A system of values

____ 2. What is the modern meaning of democracy?

a. Representation
b. A system of government
c. Free elections

____ 3. Does Europe politically mean the same as the EU?

a. The EU represents part of Europe

b. Europe includes the EU
c. Europe covers more than the EU

____ 4. What are Europe’s basic economic objectives?

a. Economic development
b. Prosperity
c. Economic travelling

____ 5. Why did 6 European countries intend to rebuild Europe according to a new order?

a. To put an end to conflicts

b. To have Germany under control
c. To consolidate co-operation

____ 6. What are the 3 treaties which consolidated the European Community?

a. The Maastricht Treaty; The Treaty of Luxembourg; The Treaty of Nice

b. The ECSC, The EEC and Euratom

____ 7. What was the purpose of the single economic market?

a. Free movement
b. Competition
c. No internal barriers to trade and investment

____ 8. What was the basic aim of creating a united Europe?

a. To promote co-operation among its members

b. To integrate other countries
c. To create a single economic market

12
____ 9. What countries were the founders of the ECSC?

a. Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, France, West Germany, Italy

b. Belgium, France, West Germany, Italy, Great Britain
c. Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Spain
____ 10. When was the ECSC Treaty signed?

a. In 1951
b. In 1957
c. In 1958

____ 11. What was the aim of the ECSC Treaty?

a. Through the Treaty a matter exclusively for the nation-state passed into the hands
of a supranational organization
b. The intention was a political union
c. To produce steel under control

____ 12. Why is the Maastricht Treaty known as “The Treaty on European Union”?

a. Because the European Community’s name was changed into that of the
European Union
b. Because the major decisions regarding the new organisation were made
There
c. Because of the single currency

____ 13. What did the Maastricht Treaty establish?

a. The timetable of a single currency

b. Common foreign and security police
c. Common economic and monetary policies, criminal justice

____ 14. What countries adopted the euro?

a. Italy, France, Germany, the U.K., Belgium, Denmark

b. Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal Germany, France
c. Italy, Greece, Sweden, Finland, Portugal, Germany

____ 15. What countries rejected using the euro?

a. The Netherlands, Denmark, Austria

b. Denmark, the U.K., Sweden
c. Sweden, Austria, Greece

____ 16. When did the euro enter into everybody life use?

a. January 2002
b. July 2002
c. December 2002

____ 17. Why was the euro first used in banking operations?

a. To settle a fixed rate of exchange in a particular state

b. To facilitate banking operations across Member States
c. To level banking operations

13
____ 18. What principles operate in the Union?

a. Democracy, rule of law, self-determination

b. Free elections, prosperity, autonomy
c. Human rights, non-discrimination, tolerance
____ 19. What areas does the 1st pillar refer to?
a. Customs union
b. Single market
c. Citizenship

a. a,
b. b,c
c. a,b,c

____ 20. What does the first pillar embody?

a. The community jurisdiction

b. The 4 freedoms
c. The single market

____ 21. What is the core of the single market?

a. Precedence over national law

b. The 4 freedoms
c. Free circulation of people

____ 22. What kind of policy do asylum and immigration refer to?

a. Social policy
b. Financial policy
c. Structural policy

____ 23. How have the 4 free movements, i.e. of goods, workers, services and capital urged
competition?

a. Enlarging the market

b. Winners will win a competition because they offer better conditions
c. Supply meets demand
____ 24. Why is competition vital within the Union?

a. Competition means progress

b. Competition means the necessity to continually develop
c. Competition forces less-developed countries to make efforts to develop
____ 25. What did the 2nd pillar refer to?

a. Common foreign and security policy

b. Unanimously-made decisions
c. Immigration
____ 26. Why did the 2nd pillar stipulate the aid to non-Member State?

a. To help candidate states align with Member State economically

b. To alleviate economic disparities
c. To avoid conflicts between rich and poor countries

14
____ 27. Why has the 2nd pillar been referred to as “Common Foreign and Security Policy”?

a. Because it stipulates peacekeeping

b. Because it stipulates democracy and human rights
c. Because it provides for disarmament
____ 28. Why did the 2nd pillar mention “financial aspects of defence” and “Europe’s security
framework”?

a. Because it refers to security policy (disarmament, defence, security)

b. Because it refers to foreign policy, i.e. peacekeeping and human rights
c. Because it expands the concept of security to the whole continent

____ 29. What Member States are not members of NATO?

a. Austria
b. Sweden
c. Portugal

____ 30. What are the European economic shared standards?

a. Sharing of prosperity
b. Growth in living standards
c. Diminish the Unemployment Rate

a. a,b
b. b,c
c. a,b,c

____ 31. What are the key statistical variables used to assess a country’s development?

a. Economic development
b. GDP, Unemployment Rate, Inflation Rate
c. GDP per capita

____ 32. What categories are known as “vulnerable people”?

a. The elderly, the poor, the orphans

b. Women
c. The disabled, orphans

____ 33. What difference can be made between the definition of the State and the definition of
a political regime?

a. State = ensemble of institutions, political regime = type of ruling

b. State = ensemble of institutions, political regime = form of government
or administration

____ 34. What conditions should a State meet to be considered autonomous?

a. Free to decide its goals

b. Free to decide and pursue its goals
c. Have the capacity to achieve its goals

____ 35. What gives power to the State?

a. The capacity to achieve its goals

15
b. Its institutions
c. Observance of the laws

____ 36. What countries received Marshall Aid from the US after World War II?

a. Germany, Italy, Russia

b. Western countries
c. The U.K.

____ 37. Where was the timetable for the introduction of the single currency first discussed?

a. In the Maastricht Treaty

b. In the Luxembourg Treaty
c. In the Nice Treaty

____ 38. What did the 3rd pillar stipulate?

a. Citizens’ freedom
b. Security
c. Justice

a. a,b
b. b,c
c. a,c

____ 39. What were the means by which citizens are afforded freedom, security and justice?

a. Through the cooperation between the police and citizens

b. Through the Member States’ cooperation in justice
c. Through the Member States’ cooperation in home affairs

____ 40. How can terrorism, trafficking in human beings, illicit drugs and arms trafficking,
corruption and fraud, racism and xenophobia be named?

a. Crime
b. Money-laundering

____ 41. When was the decision to enlarge the Union with the first ex-Communist countries
taken?

a. In the Treaty of Luxembourg

b. In the Maastricht Treaty
c. In the Nice Treaty

____ 42. Why did the European Council take the decision to welcome eastern and central
European countries after the introduction of the single currency?

a. To ensure financial and monetary stability first

b. To level the monetary system first
c. To avoid 2 harsh operations simultaneously

____ 43. What are the criteria a candidate state must meet to join the Union?

a. To meet the economic criteria

16
b. To meet the political criteria
c. To apply the laws adopted in practice

____ 44. What does the “acquis communautaire” mean?

a. To adhere to the aims of political, economic and monetary union?

b. To be able to adopt to entire body of the EU law
c. To have stable institutions guaranteeing democracy, rule of law, human
rights and protection of minorities

____ 45. What is the key economic criterion an applicant country must meet?

a. To have a market economy

b. To have a functional market economy
c. To be able to cope with competition

____ 46. What must an applicant country do in terms of law before accession?

a. To pass its own laws incorporating the acquis communautaire

b. To adopt its own laws

____ 47. What has enlargement meant for the citizens?

a. Enlargement first attempted to create a new type of citizenship on a

continental scale
b. It meant strengthening of cohesion
c. It meant enlarging the cooperation at the continental scale

____ 48. What do structural policies refer to?

a. Economy
b. Aid backward regions
c. Help for poor people

____ 49. What has the regional action consisted of?

a. Payments to disadvantaged regions

b. Non-repayable aid
c. Aid for restructuring

____ 50. Restructuring envisages regions where:

a. The GDP is less than 75% of the EU average

b. Rural areas are declining
c. The GNP is half of the EU average

____ 51. Is the cohesion fund used to:

a. Transport infrastructure
b. Environmental projects
c. Training

____ 52. Is the regional aid used to help:

17
a. Young people
b. Long-term unemployed
c. Farmers

a. a,b
b. b,c
c. a,c
d. a,b,c

____ 53. What was the PHARE Programme aimed at:

a. Helping administration to implement the Union’s acquis

b. Setting up regulatory bodies
c. Setting up an institutional control

____ 54. What does the Structural Instrumental for Pre-Accession (ISPA) support?
a. Investment in transport
b. Environmental infrastructure
c. Training

a. a,b,c
b. a,b
c. a,c
d. b,c

____ 55. What has the SAPARD programme facilitated?

a. Adaptation of agricultural structures

b. Development of rural areas
c. Improving the competitiveness of the agrifood sector

____ 56. Why was it necessary that the Union should tighten the purse strings?

a. To avoid excessive deficits

b. To maintain budgetary discipline
c. To provide funds for candidate countries

____ 57. What did the Internet facilities in the US?

a. Business
b. Transfer of knowledge
c. Communication

a. C
b. a,b
c. a,c
d. b,c

____ 58. What was the purpose of creating a “European research area”?

a. To link universities and research institutes together

b. To link science libraries and schools together
c. To link research to education

____ 59. Who have programmes such as SOCRATES and LEONARDO helped?

18
a. Students and teachers
b. Researchers
c. Young people

____ 60. Is there any country in Europe which has no written constitution?

a. None
b. Some
c. One

____ 61. Have the Member States ceded some of their sovereign powers to the powers of the
Union?

a. Yes, as the Union has a common foreign and security policy

b. Yes, as the Union operates in a single market
c. No, every Member State preserve its sovereignty

____ 62. What is the nature of the Union’s tasks?

a. Technical
b. Economic
c. Political

____ 63. What are the EU institutions having tasks related to law?

a. Council, Commission
b. Parliament
c. a+b

____ 64. Which among the EU institutions establishes policy guidelines?

a. Council
b. Parliament
c. Commission

____ 65. Which of the EU institution is the EU’s main decision-taker?

a. Parliament
b. EU Council
c. Commission

____ 66. For how long does each Member State preside over the Council?

a. 5 years
b. 6 months
c. as long as necessary

____ 67. How many representatives does each Members State have in every Council
meeting?

a. One
b. How many are considered necessary
c. Proportional to the number of the inhabitants of that state

____ 68. Who does the Council share legislative power with?
19
a. Parliament
b. Commission
c. None

____ 69. How many votes can each Member State cast in Parliament?

a. One
b. Proportional to the number of population
c. A fixed number

____ 70. What is the procedure by which the EU Council members get their seat in the
Council?

a. By appointment
b. By election

____ 71. How do representatives of the Member States enter the Parliament?

a. MEPs are appointed

b. MEPs are elected within their own countries
c. By universal suffrage

____ 72. Who does Parliament share legislative power with?

a. Council
b. Commission

____ 73. What does the “cooperation procedure” mean?

a. Parliament gives its opinion on draft directives proposed by the

Commission
b. Parliament amends Commission’s proposals

____ 74. What does the “assent procedure” mean?

a. Parliament gives its assent to international agreements negotiated by the

Commission
b. Parliament gives its assent to any proposed enlargement
c. Parliament gives its assent to changes in elections rules

____ 75. What does the “co-decision” procedure imply?

a. Parliament has the power to reject the Council’s position

b. Parliaments votes what the Council proposed

____ 76. How many representatives does each Member State send to the Commission?

a. One
b. As many as they consider necessary

____ 77. For how long are the Commission’s members appointed?

a. For 5 years
b. For 6 months

20
____ 78. Does the Commission adopt regulations?

a. Yes, it does
b. No, it ensures that the regulations adopted by the Council are implemented

____ 79. Who is responsible for common policies?

a. The Council
b. The commission

____ 80. What happens to the Commission if Parliament passes motion of censure?

a. The Commission has to resign

b. Nothing

____ 81. Who manages the budget?

a. The Council
b. The Commission

____ 82. Who first supported the ideas of making a European federation?

a. W. Churchill
b. J. Monnet

____ 83. What changes did the Berlin wall fall bring about?

a. The fall of Communism

b. The separation of Yugoslavia
c. The Soviet Union lost part of its influence in Europe

____ 84. Who initiated the setting up of the Organisation for European Economic Cooperation?

a. Western countries
b. The US

____ 85. What do the EU’s institutions aim at?

a. At bringing real and lasting peace to a large area of the planet

b. At fighting against terrorism and organised crime

____ 86. What did the 1980s recession bring?

a. Equal access to justice
b. Equal protection by law

a. A
b. B
c. a,b

____ 87. What did the 1980s recession bring?

a. A wave of euro-pessimism
b. The increased need for enlargement

____ 88. Is “union” similar to “federation”?

21
a. No, union means merging up to the complete dissolution of diversity
b. Yes, almost the same, i.e. putting entities together

____ 89. Who can become a judge or an Advocate General in the European Court of Justice?

a. Only lawyers
b. Only those elected
c. Only persons whose independence is beyond doubt and who pass
qualifications required the highest judicial officers

____ 90. What are the tasks of the European Court of Justice?

a. To interpret the Union’s law

b. To further shape the Union’s law

____ 91. What tasks does the Court of Auditors have?

a. To monitor collection of revenue

b. To monitor spending
c. To examine financial management

____ 92. What is a safeguard clause ?

a. A rapid action measure when « new » Member States fail to fulfil their obligations
b. A way « new » Member States can ensure that they receive all EU funds they are
entitled to

____ 93. What is the name of the integration theory according to which government tasks are
gradually and continuously transferred from the national to the supra-national lecel ?

a. Institutionalism
b. Functionality
c. Subsidiarity
d. Integrationalism

____ 94. Which of the following elements was not included in Agenda 2000?.

a. Transatlantic relations after enlargement

b. Reinforcement of the pre-accession strategy
c. The challenge of enlargement
d. The impact of the enlargement on the EU as a whole.

____ 95. What is the CFCU?

a. Central Financing and Contracting Unit

b. Co-Financing of Community and Union projects
c. Closed Framework of Customs Units
d. Counter Fraud and Cheating Unit

____ 96. In relation to enlargement, what is the so-called twinning?

a. Special co-operation between cities

b. Bilateral trade agreements
c.Secondment programme for experts
22
d. Cross-border co-operation programs

ANSWERS (multiple choice items)

1. ANS: B
2. ANS: B
3. ANS: A
4. ANS: B
5. ANS: C
6. ANS: B
7. ANS: A
8. ANS: A
9. ANS: A
10. ANS: A
11. ANS: A
12. ANS: A
13. ANS: A
14. ANS: B
15. ANS: B
16. ANS: A
17. ANS: B
18. ANS: A
19. ANS: C
20. ANS: A
21. ANS: B
22. ANS: A
23. ANS: B
24. ANS: C
25. ANS: A
26. ANS: B
27. ANS: A
28. ANS: C
29. ANS: B
30. ANS: A
31. ANS: B
32. ANS: A
33. ANS: B
34. ANS: A
35. ANS: A
36. ANS: B
37. ANS: A
38. ANS: B
39. ANS: B
40. ANS: A
41. ANS: A
42. ANS: A
43. ANS: A

23
44. ANS: B
45. ANS: B
46. ANS: A
47. ANS: A
48. ANS: B
49. ANS: C
50. ANS: A
51. ANS: A
52. ANS: A
53. ANS: A
54. ANS: B
55. ANS: A
56. ANS: B
57. ANS: B
58. ANS: C
59. ANS: C
60. ANS: C
61. ANS: A
62. ANS: C
63. ANS: C
64. ANS: A
65. ANS: A
66. ANS: B
67. ANS: A
68. ANS: A
69. ANS: B
70. ANS: A
71. ANS: B
72. ANS: A
73. ANS: A
74. ANS: A
75. ANS: A
76. ANS: A
77. ANS: A
78. ANS: B
79. ANS: A
80. ANS: A
81. ANS: B
82. ANS: A
83. ANS: A
84. ANS: B
85. ANS: A
86. ANS: C
87. ANS: A
88. ANS: A
89. ANS: C
90. ANS: A
91. ANS: A
92. ANS: A
93. ANS: B
94. ANS: A

24
 95. ANS: A
96. ANS: C

Recommended Bibliography and Websites

_______________________________________________________________________

1. Bache Ian, George Stephen, Politics in the European Union, 2006, Oxford University Press,
Oxford
2. Baneth Andras, Cserey Gyula, The Ultimate EU Test Book, 2006, John Harper Publishing,
London
3. Bărbulescu Iordan Gheorghe, UE de la naţional la federal, 2005, Editura Tritonic, Bucureşti
4. Iordan Gheorghe Bărbulescu, UE de la economic la politic, 2005, Editura Tritonic, Bucureşti
5. Bidilean Vidu, Uniunea Europeană (Instituţii, Politici, Activităţi), 2000, Editura Agroprint,
Timişoara
6. Chirimbu Despina, Chirimbu Sebastian, Institutional Discourse (The European Union), 2006,
Editura Fundaţiei România de Mâine, Bucureşti
7. Chirimbu Sebastian, Comportament european de afaceri, 2005, Unitatea de extensie-
UŞAMV, Timişoara
8. The European Union – What`s in it for me?, 1996, DG ICCAP, European Commission,
Brussels
9. Fontaine Pascal, Europe in 12 Lessons, 2001, www.europa.eu.int
10. Haas Ernst, The Uniting of Europe: Political, Social and Economic Forces 1950-57, 1958,
Library of World Affairs, London
11. Hamf Dominique, Thomas Anja, Chirimbu Sebastian, European Institutions (training course
for the Romanian Parliament), 2006, EWC-ECO, Bucureşti
12. Handbook on EU Affairs, 2005, Project RO-2002/000-586.03.01.04.02 (Initial Training in
European Affairs for Civil Servants), Bucharest
13. Hine Robert, Chirimbu Sebastian, Economics of the EU (training course for the Romanian
Parliament), 2006, EWC-ECO, Bucureşti
14. Jinga Ion, Popescu Andrei, Dicţionar de termeni comunitari, 2000, Editura Lumina Lex,
Bucureşti
15. Jinga Ion, Uniunea Europeană- Realităţi şi perspective, 1999, Editura Lumina Lex, Bucureşti
16. Manualul Consiliului Europei, 1999, Centrul de Informare şi Documentare al Consiliului
Europei, Bucureşti
17. Moravcsik Andrew, The Choice for Europe: social Purpose and State Power from Messina to
Maastricht, 1998, UCL Press, London
18. Websites:
25
- http://europa.eu.int ; http://europarl.eu.int ; http://ue.eu.int ; http://eca.eu.int
http://europa.eu.int/constitution ; http://www.euabc.com ; http://euobserver.com

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