EU Politics (mock questions)

Question 1

What source of euroscepticism has led the UK to view the EU membership as ‘a choice’, based on a hyper-rationalist assessment of the costs and benefits of membership?

Answer 1

The impact of British exceptionalism on the nation’s sense of European identity

Question 2

When did the UK last hold an EU membership referendum before 2016?

Answer 2

1975

Question 3

Which EU ‘Founding Father’ is credited with having drafted the plans for a ECSC?

Answer 3

Jean Monnet

Question 4

‘Recovery, Rehabilitation and Reconciliation’ were all key objectives for which two founding members of the EU?

Answer 4

Italy and West Germany

Question 5

Which founding member of the EU was motivated in their decision to join by the internal security threat posed by a strong Communist Party?

Answer 5

Italy

Question 6

What explanation is false for why the EU agreed to Eastern Enlargement?

Answer 6

The strong support of France for economic reasons

Question 7

What is not a part of the Copenhagen Criteria (1993) for setting out the requirements for EU membership?

Answer 7

The implementation of the core constitutional features of a parliamentary system of democracy

Question 8

Which EU Treaty first set out the concept of European Citizenship?

Answer 8

The Treaty of Maastricht

Question 9

What is false regarding the composition of the College of Commissioners?

Answer 9

Each Commissioner serves for a six year renewable term

Question 10

Which member state has never had a President of the European Commission?

Answer 10

Spain

Question 11

Which EU institution sets the EU agenda through summit meetings of heads of government?

Answer 11

The European Council

Question 12

Which EU function does not have a legislative function?

Answer 12

The European Court of Justice

Question 13

Which legislative procedure of the European Parliament would be used in the case of an EU trade deal?

Answer 13

The Consent Procedure

Question 14

What multi-national party grouping within the European Parliament is the most Eurosceptic?

Answer 14

The European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR)

Question 15

What form of scrutiny and accountability is not a power held by the European Parliament?

Answer 15

The power to vote to remove a President of the Commission by a super-majority

Question 16

In which institution do departmental ministers participate in the EU’s legislative process?

Answer 16

The Council of Ministers

Question 17

The EU’s Ordinary Legislative Procedure (OLP) involves joint legislative decision-making between which two EU institutions?

Answer 17

The Council of Ministers and the European Parliament

Question 18

Name a false statement concerning the ECJ

Answer 18

It was established in 1952, and is based in Strasbourg

Question 19

What term is given to the ECJ’s activist tendency to consider the purpose and intent of a piece of legislation when making a ruling on a case?

Answer 19

Constructive interpretation

Question 20

What landmark ruling by the ECJ confirmed the principle of ‘free movement of workers’ within the EU?

Answer 20

Van Duyn vs. Home Office (1974)

Question 21

What accurately explains how member state governments retain power and influence over the EU’s policy-making process?

Answer 21

The European Council and the Council of Ministers coordinate the positions of member states governments when responding to the Commission’s policy proposals

Question 22

What is not a tendency of the modern European state?

Answer 22

States will increasingly seek to retain and centralise power

Question 23

When are the next European Parliament elections?

Answer 23

2019