b - the European Council President

LICENCE 1st year - English-speaking section

Exam of June 2013

Dear colleagues, we discussed ALL these answers at our meetings.

Test (maximum 5 points) :

1. + TrueThe European Parliament is elected by overall direct vote, by people of member-States of the EU.

2. + False The European commission is the legislative branch of authority in European Union.

3. Today (in June 2013) the number of countries - members of the European Union is :

D - 27

(They will be 28 since 1 Jul 2013.)

4. The European authorities defend the member-States’ interests by the way of:

a  Pressure of the strongest countries in the European Council and the Council of the European Union

b  Participative democracy – at referendums to ratify the Constitution, Euro adoption and other crucial decisions

c  Representative democracy – the 27 commissioners in the European Commission, the deputies of Parliament elected by people of all member-States, the 27 judges in the Court of Justice

D - All the solutions above are correct

5. The Paris Treaty was signed in 1951 and:

D - had the duration of 50 years and has been expired in 2002

(The European Constitution didn’t took force because of failure of ratification in France and Netherlands)

6. Great Britain is a member of – only

C - European Union

7. Euro is introduced as the single money of some EU’ countries:

C - Since 1999-Jan-1 in the form of payment tool

(“accounting currency and cash-less payment tool”)

8. The European Union is member of:

a  NAFTA

b  NATO

c  OPEC

E - None of the solutions above is correct

9. The Community competition policy of the European Union is based on the dilemma:

B - efficiency / protection

10. The European Union is represented in the world by:

b - the European Council President

(a  the European Union’ President – This position does not exist !!

e  the President of the Council of Europe – It is not a representative of the European Union)

Open question (maximum 7 points) :

France has a strong social protection policy. Germany assures the competitiveness with strong economic policy and supports export-oriented entrepreneurship.

Why these 2 countries are called the “engines” of United Europe?

What are the essential contradictions between Germany and France?

What common interests do they have?

You can just dot down:

“Engines” of United Europe:

- Historically, these two countries have got plenty of outstanding features: creation and spreading book-printing, Renaissance age, bourgeois revolution, scientific discoveries, thinkers, music, philosophy, technological inventions.

- Rich traditions: culture, cuisine, education.

- The 2^nd World Warand its horrors made both countries to look for the peaceful evolution.

- Both countries are obsessed by the products and services’ high quality. The reputation of famous brands is created by many generations and forms the competitive advantage: products of luxury for France and innovative high-tech in real sector – for Germany.

- Both countries are developed ones and give an important contribution in the EU’ budget.

- France as a cultural center of Europe and Germany – as a scientific one.

- …

Contradictions:

- Germany has an export-oriented economy, France has a strong economy oriented towards internal consumption.

- France has heavier budget’s charge for social protection. The age of retirement is 5-7 years less for French people.

- New French (F.Hollande) policy is more favorable for immigrants.

- Both countries have strong industrial and agricultural sectors, and they are in competition (i.e., cars, banks, white wines, at least).

- Environmental issues create tensions about the nuclear power stations of France and the problem of the nuclear reactor waste products’ disposal. Germany has a special policy on developing new alternative sources of energy (wind…).

- …

Common interests:

- Stability

- Safety

- Food security

- Productivity

- Employment

- Sustainability, sustainable development

- Prosperity

- Low rate of inflation

- Stimulating economy after the financial crisis

- …

Date: 2016-03-03; view: 368