Time Management

April 26th, 2009

The most difficult factor when we sit verbal and numerical reasoning is the TIME.
Time is what we need and time is never enough.

How to manage our time? How to cover most questions in 55 or 60 minutes? During the preparation we have to work with a chronometer! In some tests we have 30 questions for 55 minutes.
There are 20 verbal questions and 10 numerical. What to do?

I proceed from the fact that I need more time for verbal and less time for numerical. If we have 55 minutes for 30 questions that means we have 3300 seconds for 30 questions.
30 questions = 55 minutes
30 questions = 3300 seconds
1 question = 110 seconds on average
1 question = 1 min 50 sec on average

Without making precise account I realize that 1min 50 sec for 1 verbal question is quite inadequate for me. So I try to solve numerical reasoning for a minute and a half.
10 numerical reasoning = 15 minutes
20 verbal reasoning = 40 minutes
That means I have 2 minutes for 1 verbal question. Is it still enough?

My calculation shows that we have about 32 seconds to solve the question - see picture below!

Are 30 seconds enough to read more than 70 words? Could someone find in 32 seconds the correct answer?

Why should we push ourselves to solve all 30 questions? Isn’t it wiser that we concentrate on 25 or 26 questions so we could resolve them properly?

time-management2


Appoint– adopt

April 13th, 2009

Is there a different meaning in appoint and adopt?

Alina paid attention to questions 43 and 44 from MCQ 2009 that there are mistakes in my answers. I started my own investigation and looked in the treaties to find the truth.

Actually parts of the web-sources are not up to date or have misleading and tricky information.

I met in previous exams questions like these: Who appoints… or Who adopts…?

Who appoints the President/Vice-President and the members of the ECB?

As you see below in Article 109a, 2b, Treaty of Maastricht:

Appointed by Heads of State or of Government

Adopted from the Council, after consultation EP + Governing Council ECB

Article 109a

1. The Governing Council of the ECB shall comprise the members of the Executive Board of the ECB and the Governors of the national central banks.

2. (a) The Executive Board shall comprise the President, the Vice-President and four other members.

(b) The President, the Vice-President and the other members of the Executive Board shall be appointed from among persons of recognized standing and professional experience in monetary or banking matters by common accord of the Governments of the Member States at the level of Heads of State or of Government, on a recommendation from the Council, after it has consulted the European Parliament and the Governing Council of the ECB.

http://eur-lex.europa.eu/en/treaties/dat/11992M/htm/11992M.html

Other cases by Treaty of Maastricht:

Article 138e:

1. The European Parliament shall appoint an Ombudsman

Article 151:

2. The Secretary-General shall be appointed by the Council acting unanimously.

Article 158:

2. The governments of the Member States shall nominate by common accord, after consulting the European Parliament, the person they intend to appoint as President of the Commission.

The President and the other members of the Commission thus nominated shall be subject as a body to a vote of approval by the European Parliament. After approval by the European Parliament, the President and the other members of the Commission shall be appointed by common accord of the governments of the Member States.

/I think in EPSO-exams “nominate”, “recommend” and “approve” appears as “adopt”. Am I right or wrong?/

Article 161 (Treaty of Amsterdam says exactly the same: Article 217 (ex Article 161)):

The Commission may appoint a Vice-President or two Vice-Presidents from among its members.

Why do we have 5 now?


Article 168a:

3. The members of the Court of First Instance shall be … appointed by common accord of the governments of the Member States for a term of six years.

Article 188b:

3. The members of the Court of Auditors shall be appointed for a term of six years by the Council, acting unanimously after consulting the European Parliament.

Article 194:

The members of the Economic and Social Committee shall be appointed by the Council, acting unanimously, for four years. Their appointments shall be renewable.

Article 198a:

A Committee consisting of representatives of regional and local bodies, hereinafter referred to as “the Committee of the Regions”, is hereby established with advisory status. […]

The members of the Committee and an equal number of alternate members shall be appointed for four years by the Council acting unanimously on proposals from the respective Member States. Their term of office shall be renewable.


EP

Council acting unanimously

Gov. or Heads of States  MS

Ombudsman

Secretary-General

President of the Commission

members of the Court of Auditors

members of the Court of First Instance

members of the Economic and Social Committee

members of the CoR

Do you agree?

Do you have other suggestion?

Thanks

DarkFallout MCQ

April 5th, 2009

Many thanks to DarkFallout for this contribution + update!
Herzlichen Dank


1) What is ITER?
2) In what cities are JRC insititutes situated?
3) Which year was the UK rebate negotiated by Margaret Tacher?
4) When is Treaty of Rome ending?
5) When was Treaty of European Defence Community signed?
6) What new instituion was created by the Treaty of Maastricht?
7) OLAF is subsidiary of what EU instititution?
;) What is ECHO?
9) In what Treaty was EU visa policy included?
10) In what Treaty non-nuclear research was first included?
11) EU Parl. motion to censure?
12) What is the main goal of JRC?
13) When did Treaty of Rome came in to force?

Hi I had another competition today.
I remember the following questions:
1
4) In what Treaty subsidiarity principle was included?
15) What dose subsidiarity principle mean?
16) What is EDC acronym for?
17) Which year euro coins and notes became a legal tender?
18) In what Treaty EMU was included?
19) What is Gallileo?
20) How many Vice-Presidents has the EU commision President?
;) Where is Cedefop (European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training) located?
22) Where is European Agency for Reconstruction located?


1. ITER is a multinational Tokamak project (originally the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor; “Iter” also means “journey”, “direction” or “way” in Latin).
The current participants (7):
EU / Japan / China / India / the Republic of Korea / Russia / USA
Location: Cadarache, in the South of France
Start: about 2018
Duration: 10 years construction + 20 years operation period
http://www.iter.org

2. JRC insititutes – which cities
Geel, Belgium
Karlsruhe, Germany
Ispra, Italy (3 institutes)
Petten, Netherlands
Sevilla, Spain
http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/jrc/index.cfm?id=1440

3. UK rebate negotiation - year
1984 – Famous statement “I want my money back” by Margaret Thatcher


4. Treaty of Rome
into force on 1 January 1958
No expiration date


5. EDC was a plan proposed in 1950 by René Pleven, the French Prime Minister.

27 May 1952:  The Six sign in Paris the European Defence Community (EDC) Treaty.
The EDC went for ratification in the French National Assembly on 30 August 1954, and failed by a vote of 264-319.
Never entered into force.


6. New institution – Maastricht

by eo ipso: The Court of Auditors was created by the 1975 Budgetary Treaty . The court did not have a defined legal status until the Treaty of Maastricht when it was made the fifth institution.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Court_of_Auditors


7. OLAF is subsidiary of EC
In order to strengthen the means of fraud prevention, the Commission therefore established within itself, the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) by EC, ECSC Decision 1999/352 of 28 April 1999. The Office was given responsibility for conducting administrative anti-fraud investigations by having conferred on it a special independent status.
1. OLAF - AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION SERVICE WITHIN THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION

http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/olaf/mission/mission/index_en.html


8. DG ECHO - European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid Office
The European Union as a whole (i.e., the Member States and the Commission) is one of the world’s main humanitarian aid donors; the Humanitarian Aid department (ECHO) is the service of the European Commission responsible for this activity.
http://ec.europa.eu/echo/about/what/presentation_en.htm

9. Objectives Amsterdam Treaty:
Rules on visas for stays longer than three months, including a single list of countries whose citizens require visas to visit the EU
… Standards and procedures for checks on persons crossing the EU’s external borders; Standards and procedures for granting and withdrawing asylum and refugee status, including minimum standards for the reception of asylum seekers and refugees etc.
http://ec.europa.eu/justice_home/daphnetoolkit/files/projects/2000_039/en_respect_eu_policy_on_migration_2000_039.doc

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


by eo ipso:  “In order to exploit the Community’s potential for technological innovation and to pursue a common policy on applied research, the Single Act provided for the establishment of a multiannual framework programme and of other specific programmes.” http://www.ena.lu


11. Motion of censure EP
Submission of motion: one tenth of Members
Adoption of motion: two-thirds majority of votes cast + majority of component Members
http://europa.eu/scadplus/leg/en/lvb/o10000.htm

German:
Misstrauensantrag:
Einreichung des Antrags: 1/10 der Abgeordneten
Annahme des Antrags: 2/3 der abgegebenen Stimmen + Mehrheit der dem Parlament angehörenden Mitglieder
http://europa.eu/scadplus/leg/de/lvb/o10000.htm


12. JRC main goal ???


13. Treaty of Rome into force
1.01.1958

14. subsidiarity principle

The Treaty on European Union has established the principle of subsidiarity as a general rule, which was initially applied to environmental policy in the Single European Act.

http://europa.eu/scadplus/treaties/maastricht_en.htm#SUBSIDIARITY

15. Subsidiarity principle

This principle specifies that in areas that are not within its exclusive powers the Community shall only take action where objectives can best be attained by action at Community rather than at national level.

http://europa.eu/scadplus/treaties/maastricht_en.htm#SUBSIDIARITY

16. EDC

European Defence Community

17. Euro coins and notes became a legal tender

Euro coins and banknotes became legal tender in most countries of the Eurozone on January 1, 2002.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_tender#In_the_Eurozone

18. In what Treaty EMU was included

Maastricht

http://europa.eu/scadplus/treaties/maastricht_en.htm#EMU

19. Gallileo

Galileo is the name of the European satellite navigation system which has been under development by the European Union and the European Space Agency (ESA) since 2002.

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

20. How many Vice-Presidents

5: http://ec.europa.eu/commission_barroso/index_en.htm

21. Cedefop location

Cedefop – the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training, established in 1975.

Head office – Thessaloniki

http://europa.eu/agencies/community_agencies/cedefop/index_en.htm

22. European Agency for Reconstruction location

The agency’s headquarters is in Thessaloniki, Greece

http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/archives/ear/agency/agency.htm

Hardcore MCQ

April 4th, 2009

Hi guys,
Merce
and tenzin were so kind to share multiple choice questions from recent exams.
Let’s move the brain!

1. How many countries share a border with Slovakia?
a. 3
b. 4
c. 5
d. 6

slovakia-topographic-map1

Poland, Ukraine, Hungary, Austria, Czech Republic (5)

2. What is the objective of the Euratom Treaty?
- create the conditions necessary for the development of a powerful nuclear industry which will provide extensive energy resources, lead to the modernization of technical processes and contribute, through its many other applications, to the prosperity of their peoples
- anxious to create the conditions of safety necessary to eliminate hazards to the life and health of the public
- desiring to associate other countries with their work and to cooperate with international organizations concerned with the peaceful development of atomic energy

- Voraussetzungen für die Entwicklung einer mächtigen Kernindustrie zu schaffen, welche die Energieerzeugung erweitert, die Technik modernisiert und auf zahlreichen anderen Gebieten zum Wohlstand ihrer Völker beiträgt
- Sicherheiten zu schaffen, die erforderlich sind, um alle Gefahren für das Leben und die Gesundheit ihrer Völker auszuschließen
- andere Länder an ihrem Werk zu beteiligen und mit den zwischenstaatlichen Einrichtungen zusammenzuarbeiten, die sich mit der friedlichen Entwicklung der Kernenergie befassen
http://europa.eu/scadplus/treaties/euratom_en.htm#OBJECTIVES

3. Legislative procedure in Public Health /(DE) Rechtsetzungsverfahren im Gesundheitswesen

Co-decision procedure - public health (Article 152(4))
Deutsch: Mitentscheidungsverfahren (Artikel 152 Absatz 4)
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/en/droit_communautaire/droit_communautaire.htm

4. Objective of the Competition Policy
The basic principles for a competition policy to create a competitive economic environment in the European Union were set out 40 years ago, in Articles 85 and 86 of the Treaty of Rome.

5. Institutes of the Joint Research Centre
The Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements (IRMM) / Geel, Belgium
Institute for Transuranium Elements (ITS) / Karlsruhe, Germany
Institute for the protection and the Security of the Citizen (IPSC) / Ispra, Italy
Institute for Environment and Sustainability (IES) / Ispra, Italy
Institute for Health and Consumer Protection (IHCP) / Ispra, Italy
Institute for Energy (IE) / Petten, Netherlands
Institute for Prospective Technological Studies (IPTS) / Sevilla, Spain

http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/jrc/index.cfm

6. Legislative procedure in Transport
Co-decision procedure - transport (Article 71(1), Article 80)
Deutsch: Mitentscheidungsverfahren - Verkehr (Artikel 71 Absatz 1, Artikel 80)

7. Who can convene the Council?

by Merce:

Article 204 of the EC Treaty

The Council shall meet when convened by its President on his own initiative or at the request of one of its Members or of the Commission.

8. When was officially the European flag adopted?

http://europa.eu/abc/symbols/emblem/index_en.htm

by pgyorgy: The Council of Europe then encouraged other European institutions to adopt the same flag and, in 1983, the European Parliament took up the call. Finally, in 1985, the flag was adopted by all EU heads of State and government as the official emblem of the European Union -

All European institutions have been using it since the beginning of 1986.

9. What non-EU countries are part of the European Economic Area?
Liechtenstein, Iceland, Norway

10. What “newly-joined” coutries have an “opt-out” for using of the € as a currency?

Two countries (Denmark and the United Kingdom) agreed an ‘opt-out’ clause in the Treaty exempting them from participation, while the remainder (many of the newest EU members plus Sweden) has yet to meet the conditions for adopting the single currency.

Which countries have adopted the euro – and when?
1999 Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Spain, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Austria, Portugal and Finland
2001 Greece
2002 Introduction of euro banknotes and coins
2007 Slovenia
2008 Cyprus, Malta
2009 Slovakia

German: Der Euro ist nicht die Währung aller EU-Mitgliedstaaten. Zwei Länder (Dänemark und das Vereinigte Königreich) haben im Vertrag eine Ausnahmeklausel (eine so genannte „Opt-out“-Klausel) ausgehandelt, durch die sie von der Teilnahme befreit werden, während die übrigen Länder (viele der jüngst beigetretenen EU-Mitgliedstaaten sowie Schweden) die Bedingungen für die Übernahme der gemeinsamen Währung noch nicht erfüllt haben. Sobald diese Länder die Bedingungen erfüllen, tauschen sie ihre nationale Währung gegen den Euro aus.

http://ec.europa.eu/economy_finance/the_euro/index_en.htm?cs_mid=2946

11. With whom did the “Cotonou Agreements” link the EU?

ACP

http://ec.europa.eu/development/geographical/cotonouintro_en.cfm

12. What rights are protected by the European Charter of Fundamental Rights?

The Charter contains a preamble and 54 Articles, grouped in seven chapters:
- Chapter I: Dignity (human dignity, the right to life …)
- Chapter II: Freedoms (the right to liberty and security, respect for private and family life, protection of personal data …)
- Chapter III: Equality (equality before the law, non-discrimination, cultural, religious and linguistic diversity, equality between men and women …)
- Chapter IV: Solidarity (workers’ right to information and consultation within the undertaking, the right of collective bargaining and action …)
- Chapter V: Citizens’ rights (the right to vote and stand as a candidate at elections to the European Parliament … freedom of movement and residence, diplomatic and consular protection)
- Chapter VI: Justice (the right to an effective remedy and a fair trial …)
- Chapter VII: General provisions

German: Die Charta umfasst eine einleitende Präambel und 54 Artikel in 7 Kapiteln:
- Kapitel I: Würde (Würde des Menschen; Recht auf Leben; Recht auf Unversehrtheit …)
- Kapitel II: Freiheiten (Recht auf Freiheit und Sicherheit; Achtung des Privat- und Familienlebens; Schutz personenbezogener Daten; Recht, eine Ehe einzugehen und eine Familie zu gründen … )
- Kapitel III: Gleichheit (Gleichheit vor dem Gesetz; Nichtdiskriminierung; Vielfalt der Kulturen, Religionen und Sprache; Gleichheit von Männern und Frauen …)
- Kapitel IV: Solidarität (Recht auf Unterrichtung und Anhörung der Arbeitnehmerinnen und Arbeitnehmer im Unternehmen; Recht auf Kollektivverhandlungen und Kollektivmaßnahmen; Recht auf Zugang zu einem Arbeitsvermittlungsdienst …)
- Kapitel V: Bürgerrechte (aktives und passives Wahlrecht bei den Wahlen zum Europäischen Parlament; aktives und passives Wahlrecht bei den Kommunalwahlen; Recht auf eine gute Verwaltung; Recht auf Zugang zu Dokumenten …)
- Kapitel VI: Justizielle Rechte (Recht auf einen wirksamen Rechtsbehelf und ein unparteiisches Gericht; Unschuldsvermutung und Verteidigungsrechte; Grundsätze der Gesetzmäßigkeit und der Verhältnismäßigkeit im Zusammenhang mit Straftaten und Strafen …)
- Kapitel VII: Allgemeine Bestimmungen
http://europa.eu/scadplus/leg/en/lvb/l33501.htm

13. What is the E111 form?
Individuals travelling abroad can gain access to health care in emergency situations. The E111 form is used to initiate the right to reimbursable health care in these situations.
http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_overview/Documents/key06_en.pdf

14. Who nominates the members of the European Region Comitee?

by the Council, acting on proposals from the member states

http://www.cor.europa.eu/pages/PresentationTemplate.aspx?view=folder&id=3bcddbcb-0f43-4fd1-bc85-2a153495bd99&sm=3bcddbcb-0f43-4fd1-bc85-2a153495bd99

15. What is ECHO?
The European Union as a whole (i.e., the Member States and the Commission) is one of the world’s main humanitarian aid donors; the Humanitarian Aid department (ECHO) is the service of the European Commission responsible for this activity.
The European Community Humanitarian Aid department (ECHO) was established in 1992.; Thanks to ECHO, humanitarian action now occupies a key position in the European Union’s external action. ECHO is the world’s main player in this field.

ECHO does more than just fund humanitarian aid:

§ It carries out feasibility studies for its humanitarian operations;

§ It monitors humanitarian projects and sets up coordination arrangements;

§ It promotes and coordinates disaster prevention measures;

§ It gives its partners technical assistance;

§ It promotes the public awareness of humanitarian aid through actions carried out directly:

§ It finances network and training study initiatives in the humanitarian field (NOHA).

http://ec.europa.eu/echo/about/what/presentation_en.htm

MCQ 2009

April 3rd, 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?

by Maria: Marginal lending facility, main refinancing operations (fixed rates) and deposit facility are the main rates of ECB.


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?

by Alina: http://europa.eu/scadplus/glossary/european_court_auditors_en.htm

… it does not have the power to impose penalties.    [3th paragraph, last sentence]

thank you Alina


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?

by vili: On 20 September 1976 in Brussels, representatives of the Member States of the European Communities adopt the Act concerning the election of the representatives to the Assembly by direct universal suffrage. The Act stipulates that the term of office for Members of the European Parliament is five years (Article 3).

http://www.ena.lu/concerning-election-representatives-assembly-direct-universal-suffrage-september-1976-020002367.html


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:

by Maria: http://europa.eu/scadplus/leg/en/lvb/r00007.htm


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)

Article N Treaty of Maastricht
The government of any Member State or the Commission may submit to the Council proposals for the amendment of the Treaties on which the Union is founded. If the Council, after consulting the European Parliament and, where appropriate, the Commission, delivers an opinion in favour of calling a conference of representatives of the governments of the Member States, the conference shall be convened by the President of the Council for the purpose of determining by common accord the amendments to be made to those Treaties. The European Central Bank shall also be consulted in the case of institutional changes in the monetary area. The amendments shall enter into force after being ratified by all the Member States in accordance with their respective constitutional requirements.

http://www.ena.lu/


German: Artikel N

Die Regierung jedes Mitgliedstaats oder die Kommission kann dem Rat Entwürfe zur Änderung der Verträge, auf denen die Union beruht, vorlegen. Gibt der Rat nach Anhörung des Europäischen Parlaments und gegebenenfalls der Kommission eine Stellungnahme zugunsten des Zusammentritts einer Konferenz von Vertretern der Regierungen der Mitgliedstaaten ab, so wird diese vom Präsidenten des Rates einberufen, um die an den genannten Verträgen vorzunehmenden Änderungen zu vereinbaren. Bei institutionellen Änderungen im Währungsbereich wird auch die Europäische Zentralbank gehört.  Die Änderungen treten in Kraft, nachdem sie von allen Mitgliedstaaten gemäß ihren verfassungsrechtlichen Vorschriften ratifiziert worden sind.


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)

by Alina: I think is the Commission as college.

http://ec.europa.eu/trade/issues/sectoral/industry/steel/legis/pr_180302.htm


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.)

by Alina: by heads of state and gov of the Eurozone.


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

by Alina: by heads of state and gov of the Eurozone.


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 is2,5


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?

ITER is a multinational Tokamak project (originally the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor; “Iter” also means “journey”, “direction” or “way” in Latin).


55. Governing Council of the ECB consists of …

56. What ECB does not?


57. Lome IV was replaced by…

The treaty, which replaced Lomé IV, became known as the Cotonou Agreement.

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.)?

Nicosia

EU knowledge for EPSO pre-selection test: what should I know?

April 3rd, 2009
The first hurdle on the way to Brussels

Die erste Hürde auf dem Weg nach Brüssel

1. EU Treaties
a. Which
b. What
c. Dates: agreement, signed, entered into force

2. Enlargements
a. Which year
b. Which country

3. Key dates
a. EP (1979)
b. Europe day
c. Circulation EURO notes and coins
d. etc. etc.

4. For all institutions:
a. Names of presidents
b. How is the president elected?
c. Duration – president mandate
d. Seat of institution

5. European Commission
a. The names of all 27 commissioners
b. Portfolio
c. Nationality

6. European Parliament
a. MEP’s by Member states
b. Election June 2009
c. Political groups

7. Votes in the Council of Ministers
a. 29 – 3 countries
b. 27 – 2 countries
c. etc.

8. Memberships
a. EFTA
b. Schengen
c. NATO
d. Euro-zone

9. European years
a. 2009 –  Creativity and Innovation
b. 2008 –  Intercultural dialog
c. 2007 – Equal opportunities for all
d. 2006 – Workers mobility

10. European capitals of culture
a. 2009 – Linz (Austria) + Vilnius (Lithuania)
b. 2010 – Istanbul (Turkey) + Pecs (Hungary) + Essen (Germany)
c. ……… 2019: Italy + Bulgaria

11. European prizes

12. European Agencies /just a short list/:
a. CFCA
b. EAR
c. EU-OSHA
d. FRONTEX
e. CEPOL
f. EUROPOL
g. EUROJUST

If I skip something important, please let me know!
I’ll add it to the “to-learn” list !!!

Join the Take-giving Initiative!

April 3rd, 2009

The Take-giving Initiative

Dear EPSO-competitors,

I found some opinions in epsoforum that here are some people who want just to take (knowledge) but not share (knowledge or experience).

If you look at some topics you will find out that there are (for example) 48 replies and 1487 views. This means that only the 30-th visitor has contributed with something.

I want to invite you to join the Take-giving Initiative!

The more you give, the more you take.

If you scream in epsoforum “hey people I have a problem with this kind a question” you will definitely receive at least 3 advices, 3 answers … 3 recommendations.

Feel free to provide help, opinions and useful web links! By sharing such information you will go deeper in your preparation. Copying information and searching for the right answers by yourself is very important during your preparation but team working really has more advantages.

Don’t be afraid of your rivals by sharing information! This competition is based not just on knowledge. At the exam you have to provide personal skills as concentration, analyzing, quickly change on subjects, pure logic etc.

Join the Take-giving Initiative!

Cheers!