Random facts Flashcards
Describe why the CAP’s origin was a tradeoff
France got CAP - Germany got Customs union and Common external tariff (built into Treaty of Rome)
End of roaming charges in the EU
15 June 2017
How many countries part of euro area?
20
(not part: BG, CZ, DK, HU, PL, RO, SE)
How many currencies in EU?
8: the euro and seven others
Launch of EU’s first quantum computer - and where?
17 Jan 2022 in DE (Juelich Supercomputing Centre)
What does TEN-E stand for?
Trans-European Networks for Energy
A policy focused on linking the energy infrastructure of the Member States; 11 priority corridors and 3 priority thematic areas
What does CEF-E stand for? Budget?
Connecting Europe Facility for Energy
2021-2027: 7-year budget: 5.84 billion (grants); managed by CINEA
2014-2020: CEF-E budget: 4.8 billion; 149 energy cross-border infrastructure in 107 projects of common interest (PCIs) in 8 priority corridors
What is EU ACER? Give some basic info.
the EU Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators
created in 2009; operational since March 2011
PROMOTE COOPERATION between national regulatory authorities at regional and European level;
MONITOR DEVELOPMENT of the network and internal electricity and gas markets
INVESTIGATE market abuse
How many countries have signed the European Convention on Human Rights? Is the EU a member? Basic info.
Drafted in 1950; entered into force 1953
46 MEMBERS
EU must yet ratify; in process
MS with voting age under 18
Austria, Malta (16), Greece (17)
ETS number of installations covered
11.000
MS where voting is compulsory in EU elections
Belgium, Luxembourg, Bulgaria, Greece, Cyprus (until 2017)
How much do EU MS contribute to the UN budget
30% - biggest contributor
MS taking most people from Ukraine under Temporary Protection Directive
Germany (25%), France (16%), Spain (12%), Austria (11%), Italy (9%)
Third ountries associated with Erasmus+
Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Turkey, Serbia, North Macedonia
EU’s outermost regions
Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Réunion, Martinique, Mayotte and Saint-Martin (France), the Azores and Madeira (Portugal), and the Canary Islands (Spain)
Population of EU
448 million (2023)
Accession negotiations are currently ongoing with…?
Turkey (frozen)
North Macedonia
Albania
Montenegro
Serbia
Which EU country has a partial opt out of the charter of fundamental rights?
Poland
“British Protocol”
Size of European civil service
Around 32 000 permanent and contract employees
Top 5 largest DGs (in terms of staff) - Jan 23
- INTPA - 2936 (9.1%)
- JRC - 2673 (8.3%)
- DGT - 2014 (6.2%)
- NEAR - 1436 (4.5%)
- OIB - 1300 (4.0%)
The 6 smallest DGs (in terms of staff) - Jan 23
IDEA - 18 pp (0.1%)
HERA - 63 pp (0.2%)
EPSO - 123 pp (0.4%)
IAS - 147 pp (0.5%)
REFORM - 192 pp (0.6%)
DEFIS - 209 pp (0.6%)
Staff European Union -Gender Equality (Jan 23)
43.2% men
56.8% womem
Top 3 nationalities EU staff
13.9% Belgium
13.5% Italy
10.1% France
8.1% Spain
6.3% DE
Least represented EU staff
0.3% LUX
0.5% MT (Malta)
0.5% CY (Cyprus)
What is the minimum threshold for establishing enhanced cooperation?
9 MS
how many committees are in the comitology register?
2024: 597
Previously (last year): 569
EU elections 2024
6-9 June 2024
when were decisions added as legal instrument of the Commission?
Treaty of Lisbon
when do legislative acts enter into force?
After publishing in the OJ either on the date specified in the act or on the 20th day following their publication
Top 3 countries with the most new infringement cases
Belgium, Cyprus, Portugal
Top 3 countries with the most open cases at the end of 2022
Belgium, Spain, Greece
Name of EU navigation satellite system
Gallileo
Copernicus
Earth observation system
Number of proposals presented to COM by the COnference on the future of EU
49
326 concrete measures
ETIAS
European Travel Information and Authorisation System (as of mid-2025, people from more than 60 Visa-free countries will need to get travel authorisation before coming to Europe); pre-travel screening, ETIAS national units located in 30 European countries
Prüm framework
On automated exchange of information between law enforcement authorities, entered into force in April 2024
