2) European Union

Question 1

What is annual membership of the EU expected to cost per person annually?

Answer 1

2000 pounds sterling p.a.

Question 2

Who is the European Parliament less likely to consult in the decision making process?

Answer 2

Pressure Groups

Question 3

Why is the European Parliament less likely to consult pressure groups?

Answer 3

It sees itself and national parliaments as representative of the EU citizens.

Question 4

Two types of Pressure Groups?

Answer 4

• Interest

- Business

Question 5

Interest Pressure Group example?

Answer 5

European Women’s Lobby which is comprised of 2000 member organisations in 30 countries.

Question 6

What does the European Commission ensure?

Answer 6

All relevant interests are properly consulted in the policy-making process.

Question 7

Which type of pressure group is more representative of EU citizens than the other?

Answer 7

Interest pressure groups are more representative than business ones.

Question 8

What is the ratio of Business pressure groups to interest ones?

Answer 8

4:1

Question 9

What is the EESC and why was it established?

Answer 9

The European Economic and Social Committee was established to channel interests of pressure groups into EU policy making.

Question 10

Why do pressure groups bypass the EESC?

Answer 10

It lacks policy-making powers and institutional weight.

Question 11

What do pressure groups have more influence on?

Answer 11

The largest and richest ones which are normally business pressure groups.

Question 12

What were former PM David Cameron’s proposed EU reforms, which would benefit the UK?

Answer 12

More sovereignty, safeguarding the rights of EU nations, preventing migrants from claiming in work benefits and less regulation to extend the single market and form new trade deals.

Question 13

What is the formal title of business pressure groups?

Answer 13

Private economic interest groups.

Question 14

What is the formal title of interest pressure groups?

Answer 14

Public or social interest groups

Question 15

Example of a Business pressure group?

Answer 15

Committee of Agricultural Organisations in the EU (COPA).

Question 16

What types of policy do business pressure groups mostly want to influence?

Answer 16

Competition policy, trade policy and other areas that affect their member’s businesses.

Question 17

Are interest pressure groups normally profitable or non-profitable organisations?

Answer 17

Non-profit

Question 18

What are examples of things that interest pressure groups represent?

Answer 18

The environment, human rights and animal welfare.

Question 19

Give an example of an interest pressure group.

Answer 19

Human Rights Watch.

Question 20

What two institutions are chiefly targeted by pressure groups?

Answer 20

European Commission and European Parliament as they involved in the policy-making process.

Question 21

Why does the Commission welcome the lobbying of pressure groups?

Answer 21

It is a representation of civil society.

Question 22

Who in the Commission is targeted by pressure

groups?

Answer 22

Directorates General.

Question 23

What two things can the Commission provide for interest pressure groups?

Answer 23

Funding and support to those who request it.

Question 24

In what year did the European Parliament establish its first register for pressure groups?

Answer 24

1996 which was for one year.

Question 25

When was the European Transparency Initiative (ETI) launched?

Answer 25

2005

Question 26

Role of the ETI?

Answer 26

To enhance the accountability of EU funding provided for pressure groups and to impose stricter rules on lobbying.

Question 27

What did the ETI lead to?

Answer 27

A Register of Interest Representatives in 2008 which pressure groups could voluntarily sign up to it and observe a code of conduct which specified that standards they need to meet in their lobbying.

Question 28

When was the Transparency Register launched which was jointly run by the Commission and Parliament and replaced both registers launched?

Answer 28

June 2011.

Question 29

What did the Transparency Register involve/ include?

Answer 29

Information about who is engaged in lobbying activity , what the cause is they’re trying to pursue and what resources and funding are involved. Also a new code of conduct.

Question 30

How many registrants were on the newest register in 2015?

Answer 30

8223. Around half (4158) are in-house lobbyists and trade/business/professional associates.

Question 31

How many lobbyists did the Corporate Europe Observatory estimate to be in the EU?

Answer 31

Around 30,000 nearly matching the 31,000 staff employed by the Commission