pass the pre selection

This guidance was put together from preselection test workshops that were carried out for COM A/1/02 and COM/A/2/02 Administrators (A7/A6) and Assistant Administrators (A8) in the fields of ‘Agriculture’, ’Fisheries’ and ‘Environment’ and COM/A/3/02 Administrators (A7/A6) in the field of ‘Research’ on the 20th, 24th and 25th February 2003 by the EU Staffing Branch.

Preselection test Guidance Mar 03 V.1

HOW TO PASS THE

PRESELECTION TESTS

Supplement to A CANDIDATE’S GUIDE

PRODUCED BY THE EU STAFFING BRANCH

OF THE CABINET OFFICE

The information is, therefore, relevant to the preselection tests of these particular competitions but can be used as a guide to the preselection tests of other competitions except those for translators and interpreters.

DISCLAIMERSPeople who have a background in EU recruitment provided the information but they are not experts on EU policy or in the individual fields of a competition. The advice given is not rocket science; we can provide tips on what to expect and how to prepare. You need to bear in mind that slight changes are always possible on the day. We cannot tell you the questions - we have no insider knowledge.

The ideal/successful candidate (Laureate)

Research carried out within the Commission has shown that the ideal candidates will often have:a) lived, worked or studied outside their homeland orb) spent time in Brussels or an EU administrative centre orc) undertaken an internship in one of the EU Institutions

Contrary to popular belief, there are no national quotas for applicants from Member States. The only exception is for enlargement competitions.

Statistic: about 80% of all candidates fail to progress beyond the preselection tests. This is frequently due to lack of preparation or the adoption of the wrong strategy, when taking the tests.

Competitions

All competitions for the EU Institutions, i.e the European Commission, the European Parliament, the European Council, the Court of Auditors, the Court of Justice, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, are organised by the European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO). Their website is http://europa.eu.int/epso/index_en.htm.

TimetableEPSO has to deal with tens of thousands of applications for competitions. You can expect the whole process of your competition to take a year or more, though they are urgently examining ways to reduce this.

Competitions are announced in the Official Journal. You can access the Official Journal at the following web site http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/en/oj/index.html. The Official Journal normally includes a rough guide as to when the various stages of the competition will take place.

Applications

First stage: This is relevant to all applicants, as it concerns admission to the preselection tests. You must return the completed and signed optical reader registration form by registered post, postmarked no later than the date specified in the Official Journal competition notice. You must use the correct optical reader registration form for each competition, a copy of


http://europa.eu.int/epso/index_en.htm

which can be found in the Official Journal. Only the original of this document is acceptable, downloaded forms are not acceptable.

Second stage: If you pass the preselection test, you will have to submit another application form prior to the written tests.

In order to be acceptable, applications must include the following:a) completed and signed form (unsigned forms will not be accepted)b) numbered annex containing educational qualifications and documents

certifying your professional experiencec) copies of all supporting documents detailed in this annex.

Notei) The optical reader form is read by a machine, therefore you must

ensure it is completed in accordance with the guide in the Official Journal.

ii) Once you have submitted the optical reader form, you cannot change any choices i.e. you cannot change your specialised field or your second language.

iii) Ensure you have the relevant qualifications and experience. These are checked if you pass the preselection tests. Therefore, even if you pass the preselection tests, you will not be allowed to take the written tests if your qualifications/work experience (where required) are not relevant.

Most competitions will follow a similar format:

Preselection tests – in the form of 3 multiple-choice tests. To be admitted you must satisfy the general entry criteria published in the Official Journal.

Written tests – this will be one or more case studies in your chosen field designed to test:a) your knowledge of the field chosen for the competition b) your comprehension skills and ability to analyse and summarisec) your drafting ability in your main languaged) your ability to draft in your second language

Institutions may decide to set a précis or essay type question rather than case studies.

Interview – this consists of an interview with the selection board.

Depending on the number of applicants, the preselection tests and the written test may be held in one or several Member States. The Member State, in which you sit the tests, will usually be your usual country of residence. The tests will be held simultaneously for all applicants at all designated test locations. Note: If you sit the tests in Brussels expect to be in a large hall with about 1000 candidates at the test centre but, if you sit the test in London, expect approximately about 100 per room.


Statistic: 10% - 15% of applicants will probably not turn up for the first 2 stages of the competition. Even at the interview stage a number of candidates will not arrive!

Reserve List: (See annex 1) At the end of the competition, the selection board draws up a list of candidates it considers best qualified for the vacant posts. Please note:a) being included on the reserve list does not guarantee eventual

employmentb) a larger reserve list is drawn up than is necessaryc) even though the reserve list will have a closing date, this will almost

certainly be extended.

The preselection tests

There will be 3 preselection tests. They are:

a) Specialised Field – a test comprising a series of multiple-choice questions to test your specialised knowledge in your chosen field. This is likely to be:

i) about 40/50 questionsii) in your mother tongueiii) combined with the EU Knowledge test iv) 80 minutes long (both Field and EU Knowledge together)

Tips: If you know your subject you should be OK. However, there may be rogue questions (e.g. an accountancy exam contained questions on share options – not specifically related to accountancy). The questions may have been set by an examiner of another nationality, who may have a different perspective.

b) Numerical and Verbal reasoning – a test comprising a series of multiple-choice questions to assess your general ability rather than knowledge, in particular your verbal and numerical reasoning capacity. This is likely to be:i) about 30/40 questionsii) in your mother tongueiii) 60% verbal and 40% numericaliv) 40 minutes long

Verbal questions will have a passage of text with 4 statements relating to the text. You will have to derive from the text which statement is the most accurate. As the questions go on, the texts are likely to become longer.

Tips: Look for words in the text and statements that may be different but mean the same thing:

e.g. “Hardly anything was left” “There were barely any remains”

CORRECT ANSWER


On the other hand, beware potential answers, which adopt almost the same wording but with one crucial difference:

e.g. “Penelope avoided taking a very negative attitude”“Penelope avoided taking a rather negative attitude”

INCORRECT ANSWER

Numerical questions will have numerical data i.e. pie charts, bar charts, graphs etc. followed by 4 questions, the answers to which can be calculated from the data.

Tips: Calculators are not allowed so practise mental arithmetic, particularly the calculation of percentages. (You can write on the question paper but scrap paper is also provided.)

Remind yourself how data can be presented e.g a mixture of charts, text etc. Answer the type of questions you prefer first, then go back to the others.

c) EU Knowledge – a test comprising a series of multiple-choice questions on the main developments in European integration and Community policies in a second Community language (chosen by you and specified on your application form). This is likely to be:

i) about 30/40 questionsii) in your second languageiii) combined with the Field testiv) 80 minutes long (both EU Knowledge and Field together)

Tips: You need a good knowledge of the EU and the way it works. The questions are now more specific to the European Union i.e. its institutions and their powers, its policies and budgets, its treaties (when were they signed, what they changed), its famous players and EU history from the end of the Second World War. (However, the questions may concentrate more on events of the last decade.) In addition you could be tested on the related organisations (agencies, WEU, EFTA, NATO, WTO, Council of Europe), enlargements (past, present and future), languages and flags of the EU.

General Tips for all preselection tests: You have to pass each test with at least 50% Almost certainly you will need an aggregate score of more than 50% to

be selected for the next stage. The acceptable aggregate score will vary for each competition, as it is dependent on the standard of the applicants. There are no penalty points, so answer every question, guessing if necessary.

It can help to speed-read questions and eliminate obviously wrong answers

Start with the questions you prefer Do not spend longer than a maximum of 2 minutes on any question –

sometimes you may only have an average of one minute per question. Leave questions you cannot answer – you can go back to them later


Take a watch that works! Sometimes there is no clock in the room. You will be given time warnings towards the end of the 2 sessions of tests. By the second warning (normally 5 minutes from the end) you should have finished and be checking through your answer sheet to ensure you have answered every question.

Note: You will have a separate sheet, on which to answer the questions (See Annex 2). This is likely to have your details printed at the top already. The answer sheet is read by a machine; there is no room for mistakes, therefore it is imperative that you:i) Read the “Notes to Candidates” provided on the dayii) Check how to mark the box on the answer sheet i.e. cross or tickiii) Use a black biro; one will be provided but take your own as well and

make sure it works!iv) Mark only inside the boxes provided; do not go outside the boxv) Usually you have to sign the form within box H. (Unsigned forms may

be discarded by the machine)vi) Ensure you answer the correct number on the answer sheet

(particularly if you leave a question but go back to it later).vii) If you realise an answer you have given is wrong, you cannot change

it. We would suggest you mark your correct answers on the question sheet first, then transfer the answers to the answer sheet but don’t do this in the Verbal & Numerical comprehension test – you won’t have time!

viii) If you spoil the answer sheet before the test starts, you can normally ask for another. This is not possible once the test has started.

ix) Concentrate on your own test. Do not take notice of what anybody else is doing – ignore apparent cheats, those who finish early, candidates berating the standard of the questions etc.

We have included some sample tests (See Annex 3) with this guide and more sample and interactive tests can be found on the EPSO website - http://europa.eu.int/epso/.

How are you going to prepare?

A lot of the preparation you do for the field test and EU knowledge test may later be useful for the written and oral stages

Preparation for specialised field test You need to update your knowledge i.e. find out the latest and key

issues/developments etc in your chosen field Give your knowledge a European focus i.e. if you have been working in

your field at a national level, find out what is going on in Europe. Find out about any EU treaties that may affect your specialised field

area

We would suggest you look at: Commission websites and other institutions’ web sites Free information provided by European Documentation Centres and

European Information Points Recently published books in your chosen field, which you find interesting Specialist journals i.e. New Scientist


Official Journals, i.e. descriptions of policy areas - read up on unfamiliar areas.

Key policy statements in chosen field Government departments at home with an interest in your chosen field

Preparation for EU Knowledge test Clarify and update your knowledge in English and in your second

language. Familiarise yourself with expressions/acronyms in your second language Think about likely areas of questions e.g. enlargement, the euro

We would suggest you look at: Overview articles e.g. the Economist, Independent and French, Spanish,

German etc. equivalents Seek general information on web sites in your second language –

Commission, other EU institutions, Council Presidency, National Ministries etc.

Browse through the Official Journal Practise questions with books such as 250 MCQ on Europe and European

Policy (2001 Edition – Treaty of Nice). We would recommend that you buy the book in your second language as well.

Preparation for the Verbal and Numerical Reasoning test Practise! Use the EPSO interactive tests and any others you can find on

commercial websites and in bookshops

We have included some useful web sites (See Annex 4) that will provide some of this information

Before and during the Exam

These next tips are very basic but our suggestions are designed to make the exams easier: Consider travelling arrangements and any problems that may arise. If

you are travelling a long distance to the exam centre it may be worthwhile travelling the night before. Remember, parking may be difficult at the centre.

Get to the exam centre in plenty of time – between half an hour to an hour before the exam is due to start.

Normally you will be admitted if you arrive late but will not be given any extra time. If you arrive after the first test has finished, you will be refused entry because you will not be able to get the pass mark in the first test.

Take a drink with you (food if you know you will need it) You do not have to dress smartly - wear clothes you feel comfortable in.

Layers of clothing can be a good idea as you do not know how hot or cold the exam centre may be.

Go the toilet before you start – you can waste valuable minutes going to the toilet during the exam.

Leave your mobile phone at home, otherwise it may be temporarily confiscated.

Do not take any valuables with you. In London a locked cloakroom is provided for bags, coats etc.


Do not take laptops, dictionaries, calculators etc., as you will not be able to take them into the exam centre.

Carefully read : Notes sent with the invitation to attend the testsThe Official JournalCandidates notes on the desk - there may be late changes in procedure

Remember to take your Passport or ID Card and invitation letter with you, since you will not be allowed in the exam room without them. Have them handy, when you go into the room.

Ignore anybody who is cheating – if you see them cheating so will the invigilators

As the invigilators often check under the desks for forbidden items, we would suggest ladies wear trousers!

If you think a question is wrong (this has happened before) tell the invigilator after you have finished the test. Do not waste valuable time during the exam.

If your personal details have changed since you originally applied for the competition, please remember to notify EPSO by fax.

You will not normally be able to leave in the last ¼ hour of the test. This is to avoid disturbing others at a crucial time.

After the preselection tests, you are entitled to be sent, on request, a copy of your answers together with the list of correct answers. You are also entitled to take the question paper with you, when you leave the exam room. We would appreciate, if you do either of these, being sent copies, so we can continue to provide examples of past papers to future competition candidates.

May I take this opportunity to wish you ‘Good Luck’ in the preselection tests and, if you do get through, please let us know because we may be able to provide help with the next stages.


ANNEX 1

COM/A/1/02 A7/A6 Administrators in the fields of ‘Agriculture’, Fisheries and ‘Environment’

Applicants Reserve list

Agriculturalists 1630 120Fisheries 251 30

Environmentalists 3364 140

COM/A/2/02 A8 Assistant Administrators in the fields of ‘Agriculture’, Fisheries and ‘Environment’

Applicants Reserve list

Agriculturalists 1645 100Fisheries 361 30

Environmentalists 4937 80

COM/A/3/02 A7/A6 Administrators in the field of ‘Research’

Applicants Reserve (approx) list

Field 1 Life sciences and technologies 1500 55

Field 2 Sustainable development: 1500 110 environmental, energy and transport sciences and technologies

Field 3 Technologies for the information 1750 80 Society and industrial technologies

Field 4 Socio-economic and ethical aspects 1250 55

of research and technological development (RTD) activities


ANNEX 2Answer Sheet


ANNEX 3

Past Papers


SAMPLE MULTIPLE CHOICEQUESTIONS

1. SPECIALISED FIELD

Questions 21— 27 are from an externalrelations competition.

Questions 30 — 33 are from a taxationcompetition.

21) The concept of "land for peace":

a) is a key element of the "Plan Colombia"b) was the Madrid conference formula for peace in the Middle Eastc) is the slogan for land reform in Zimbabwed) is an essential element of the Dayton agreement

22) The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE):

a) is responsible for the international military forces in Albaniab) deals with security, economic and human dimension issuesc) is involved in security, economic and trade issuesd) is based in Helsinki


23) The division of Europe into areas of influence in February 1945 took place at:

a) the Casablanca conferenceb) the Potsdam conferencec) the Tehran conferenced) the Yalta conference

24) The EU's Market Access Strategy of 1996 has as its primary objective:

a) to inform our main trading partners on business opportunities within the EUb) to list all European Union exportersc) to list and address all trade bafflers affecting EU exportersd) to list all existing trade policy instruments of the EU

25) Which of the following is the main objective of the Cairns Group?

a) to fight corruptionb) to provide financial assistance to developing countriesc) to promote liberalisation of world trade in agricultured) to promote debt relief for the least developed countries

26) Which of the following is not a component of the Human Development Index(HIM)?a) life expectancy at birthb) the adult literacy ratec) access to basic healthcared) the educational enrolment rate

27) The outcome of the third UN conference on the least developed countries (LDCs), held in Brussels in May 2001, was:a) a decision to cancel all of the government debt of the LDCsb) a decision by the industrialised countries to give 0.7 % of their GNP in

official aid to the LDCsc) the adoption by consensus of a programme of action for the LDCsd) an agreement linking the giving of official aid to the introduction of good

governance


30) Under Council Directive 77/799/EEC (the Mutual Assistance Directive):a) a Member State may refuse to provide information that is not available without further investigationb) exchange information on request under Article 2 of the Directive shall normally take place within six

months of communication of the request to the competent authoritiesc) a Member State having received information under Article 3 of the Directive (on automatic exchange

of information) may pass this information on to another Member State without requesting the permission of the Member State from which the information originates

d) the provision of information may be refused where it would lead to the disclosure of a professional secret or a commercial process

3 l)Directive 90/434/EEC (the Merger Directive):

a) does not apply to situations where two companies in two different Member States are merged into a new company in a third Member State

b) does not apply to mergers between two companies where one is fully owned by the otherc) applies to exchange of shares which also involve a cash payment provided that the cash payment

does not exceed 10% of the market value of the sharesd) does not apply where one of the companies involved is resident for tax purposes in a Member State

under its national law but is treated as resident outside the Community for tax purposes under a double taxation agreement (concluded by that Member State)

32) Directive 90/435/EEC (the Parent-Subsidiary Directive):

a) does not apply to partnerships, even where they are subject to corporation tax and the profits they distribute are treated as dividends under national law

b) applies to companies established under the European company statutec) applies to companies that under national law have opted to be subject to corporation taxd) applies to companies fulfilling the basic requirements of the Directive and taking a corporate form

created after the adoption of the Directive, provided that the other Member States have been duly notified and this notification has been published in the Official Journal

33) According to the Council's conclusions of November 2000 on the future Directive on interest and royalties:

a) software and leasing are not included in the definition of royalties under the Directiveb) an automatic exemption at source will apply to interest and royalty payments covered by the Directivec) the anti-abuse clause will be deleted when implementation of the tax package as a whole is agreedd) Spain will be granted the same transitional rules as Greece and Portugal



2. NUMERICAL AND VERBALREASONING


Each question consists of a text and four statements. Your task is to indicate which of the four statements can best be derived from the given text.

N.E. Sometimes a statement will be in entire or partial contradiction to the given text. Sometimes a statement itself is true, but that fact cannot be derived from the sample text. Base your answer exclusively on the information provided by the text. You may choose only one statement for your answer.

1. In general terms it is impossible for modern workers to keep their professional and home lives completely separate. Although there is evidence to suggest that individuals' employment and their colleagues at work may or may not form an integral part of their non-working life, the social and economic aspirations that individuals develop through work are invariably carried over into their social interactions.

a. In the past individuals have avoided combining their social and work lives.b. The expectations that people develop in their professional lives will affect the expectations

that they have in general.c. The friends that a person makes at work will invariably be friends outside work.d. Workers aspire to high social and economic aims.

ANSWER B)This is another way of saying "---the social and economic aspirations that individuals develop through work are invariably carried over into their social interactions." Some of the other answers may be true but are not mentioned in the text.

2. European Union citizens should be able to change jobs without any risk to their pension rights. Currently some pensioners, who retire abroad, find that they are taxed in two countries or that they face higher rate taxation on their pension from the country, in which it was earned, compared with the tax in the state, where they live. For such people this situation represents a disincentive to employment abroad and seems to run contrary to the EU's stance on the rights of migrant workers.

a. People ought to be able to move from country to country without losing their pension rights.b. It is time the EU rationalised the rules on taxation of pensioners.c. The rights of migrant workers within the EU should be protected.d. Some EU pensioners would pay less tax, if they were taxed under the laws of the country,

where they reside rather than under the legislation of the state, in which the pension was earned.

ANSWER B)This is a summary of the second sentence.

a) In the first sentence it says "change jobs", whereas this uses the phrase "move from country to country".c) Not the same as "-- contrary to the EU's stance


d) Not mentioned in the passage above.


3. When, as it almost inevitably will, the European Union expands to include almost twice as many countries as now, the number of its official languages will also rise. It is not merely the increase in the official languages that will complicate the issue but the myriad of permutations this will engender. For the interpretation and translation services this could become a veritable nightmare.

a. The number of languages spoken within the EU will double, following enlargement of the Union.b. Interpreters and translators will face major difficulties, when the EU enlarges, because they will

have tolearn even more languages.

c. There may be huge problems in finding interpreters, who speak Lithuanian, Czech and Greek.d. It seems highly likely that the EU will increase in size, causing a serious problem for the

linguistic services.

ANSWER D)This answer is simply a summary of the whole text, whereas none of the other answers reflects accurately any part of the text.


NUMERICAL QUESTIONS

The numerical test comprises a series of multi-choice questions. The chart following the questions

contains the necessary information to enable you to calculate your answers.

4. In Country B, what is the total number of people working in construction and industry (approximately)?

A 1.6million B 1.8million C 3.6million D 3.8million

ANSWER A)The workforce is 6.5 million (see first chart). 10% works in construction and 15% in industry = 25%.25% of 6.5 million is 1.625 million. The closest answer is a).

5. How much is Country A's export of raw materials worth as a percentage of its total GDP?

A 3.2% B 16% C 20% D 40%

ANSWER B)Raw materials account for 40% (see pie chart) of exports totalling 12000 million (see first chart), which is 4800 million. The GDP is ~30000 million, so €48O0 million is 16% of that figure.

6. In Country B, 25% of those unemployed are looking for work in the agriculture sector. For every person looking for work in this sector, approximately how many are already employed within it?

A 43 B 23 C 11 D 2

ANSWER D)Of 6.5 million workers, 5% are employed in agriculture = 325000. There are 0.6 million unemployed, of whom 25% (i.e. 125000) want to work in agriculture. 325000:125000 = 2.6, therefore the nearest answer is 2.



3. EU KNOWLEDGE

These will be in your second EUlanguage.

There are samples in French andGerman taken from the Commission

web site.We have also provided a few in English

to give you extra practice

41. Lequel des critères ci-après n'est pas mentionné parmi les critères de ((convergence )) dans le traité de Maastricht?

a) déficit publicb) taux d'inflationc) croissance économiqued) taux d'intérêt à long terme

45. Quelles sont les communautés européennes qul ont fusionné en 1967 pour créer les (( Communautés européennes ))?

a) La Communauté économique européenne, Ia Communauté européenne du charbon et de l'acier

b) La Communauté économique européenne, Ia Communauté européenne du charbon et de l'acier, Ia Communauté européenne de l'énergie atomique

c) La Communauté économique européenne, Ia Communauté européenne de I'énergie atomique

d) La Communauté européenne du charbon et de l'acier, Ia Communauté européenne de l'énergie atomique

50. Sur base des chiffres Eurostat pour 1997, l'Union européenne produit plus de 50% de Ia production mondiale d'un des produits agricoles suivants:

a) céréalesb) laitc) vianded) yin

53. LActe unique européen a été signé en:

a) 1981b) 1986c) 1988d) 1990

56. Parmi les instruments ci-aprés lequel fait partie des fonds structurels de I'Union?

a) Fonds social européenb) Fonds européen de développementc) LIFEd) PHARE

58. Qui était le premier Président de Ia Commission de Ia Communauté économique européenne?

a)Jean Monnetb)Robert Schumanc)Alcide de Gasperi

d) Walter Hallstein

60. En ce qui concerne Ia politique étrangère et de sécurité commune, telle que Ia prévoit le traité sur I'UE, Ia Commission:

a) n'a pas le droit d'initiativeb) a seule le droit d'initiativec) partage le droit d'initiative avec les Etats membresd) partage le droit d'initiative avec le Parlement européen

61. Le médiateur européen est compétent pour examiner les plaintes relatives au mauvais fonctionnement:

a) des administrations publiques nationalesb) des institutions et organismes communautairesc) des Représentations Permanentes des Etats membres à Bruxellesd) du Parlement europ6en exclusivement

64. Le Fonds Européen de Développement finance:

a) les investissements dans les régions en retard de déveIoppement des Etats membresb) les grands réseaux transeuropéensc) Le déveIoppement de Ia technologie de linformationd) Ia coopération avec certains pays en voie de développement

67. L'Union économique et monétaire comporte trois phases principales, dont Ia premiére a commencé en:

a) 1990b) 1991c) 1992d) 1994

Réponses41 C45 B50 D53 B56 A58 D60 C61 B64 D67 A

41 Welches der folgenden Kriterien ist nicht als “Konvergenzkriterium" im Maastrichter Vertrag aufgeführt?

a) das öffentliche Defizitb) die Inflationsratec) das Wirtschaftswachstum

d) die Iangfristigen Zinssätze

45 Welche Europäischen Gemeinschaften bilden seit 1967 gemeinsam die “Europäischen Gemeinschaften"?

a) die Europäische Wirtschaftsgemeinschaft und die Europäische Gemeinschaft für Kohle und Stahl

b) die Europäische Wirtschaftsgemeinschaft, die Europäische Gemeinschaft für Kohle und Stahl und die Europäische Atomgemeinschaft

c) die Europäische Wirtschaftsgemeinschaft und die Europäische Atomgemeinschaftd) die Europäische Gemeinschaft für Kohle und Stahl und die Europäische Atomgemeinschaft

50. Gemäß den Statistiken von Eurostat für 1997 stammen über 50% der weltweiten Erzeugung eines landwirtschaftlichen Erzeugnisses aus der Europäischen Union. Nennen Sie dieses Erzeugnis.

a) Getreideb) Milchc) Fleischd) Wein

53. In welchem Jahre wurde die Einheitliche Europ~ische Akte unterzeichnet?

a) 1981b) 1986c) 1988d) 1990

56. Welches Instrument zähIt zu den Strukturfonds der Union?

a) der Europäische Sozialfondsb) der Europäische Entwicklungsfondsc) LIFEd) PHARE

58. Wie hieß der erste Präsident der Kommission der Europäischen Wirtschaftsgemeinschaft?

a) Jean Monnetb) Robert Schumannc) Alcide de Gasperid) Waiter Hallstein

60. Im EU-Vertrag ist für die Gemeinsame Außen- und Sicherheitspolitik festgelegt:

a) Die Kommission hat kein Initiativrechtb) Die Kommission allein hat das lnitiativrechtc) Die Kommission teilt das Initiativrecht mit den Mitgliedstaatend) Die Kommission teilt das Initiativrecht mit dem Europ~ischen Parlament.

61. Der Europäische Bürgerbeauftragte ist befugt, Untersuchungen aufgrund von Beschwerden über Mißstände bei der Tätigkeit folgender Einrichtungen durchzuführen:

a) der Behörden der Mitgliedstaatenb) der Organe oder Institutionen der Gemeinschaftc) der ständigen Vertretungen der Mitgliedstaaten in Brüsseld) ausschließlich des Europäischen Parlaments

64 Der Europäische Entwicklungsfonds finanziert

a) Investitionen in den Gebieten der Mitgliedstaaten mit Entwicklungsriickstandb) die großen transeuropäischen Netzec) die Entwicklung der Informationstechnologied) die Zusammenarbeit mit bestimmten Entwicklungsländern

67 Die Wirtschafts- und Währungsunion wird in drei Stufen realisiert. Wann begann die erste Stufe?

a) 1990b) 1991c) 1992d) 1994

Antworte41C45 B50 D53 B56 A58 D60 C61 B64 D67 A

1. Which European Union Agency is based in Munich?a) European Patent Officeb) European Monitoring Centre for Drugs & Drug Addictionc) Joint European Torusd) European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products

ANSWER a)The European Patent Office is located in Munich.The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs & Drug Addiction is in Lisbon; JET (the Joint European Torus) wasset up in Culham, near Oxford, UK; London is the home of the European Agency for the Evaluation ofMedicinal Products.

2. One of the following statements is INCORRECT. The European Commission's "stage" scheme:

a) comprises internships lasting 5 monthsb) is available to young nationals of EU member statesc) runs twice a yeard) accepts approximately 650 interns for each intake

ANSWER b)The “stage" is open to young (normally not over 30 years old) citizens of any country in the World

3. Which of the following statements is INCORRECT? The Committee of the Regions:

a) has 222 members, the same as the Economic & Social Committeeb) will have 350 members following enlargement of the EUc) draws its members from various economic and social interest groupsd) is now consulted more widely by other EU institutions following the Treaty of

Amsterdam

ANSWER c)This is true of the Economic & Social Committee but not of the Committee of the Regions, which draws its members from regional and local government bodies

4. COREPER, the Committee of Permanent Representatives, is actually composed of 2 committees, COREPER1 and COREPER II. Which one of the following answers is correct? The COREPER II committee:

a) is attended by the Permanent Representatives of the member statesb)deals only with financial mattersc)refers all its decisions to COREPER 1d)is composed of Deputy-Permanent Representatives

ANSWER a)Surprisingly, it is COREPER II, not COREPER I, which is attended by the Permanent Representatives

ANNEX 4

USEFUL WEBSITES

Produced by the Preselection test Guidance Mar 03 V.1EU Staffing Branch

http://europa.eu.int(main website - navigate to Commission, DGs and policy areas

http://www.europe.org.uk(sources of information in the UK)

http://www.cec.org.uk(Commission representation in the UK – policy briefs, free publications)

http://www.europa.eu.int/epso(European Personnel Selection Office web site – updates on recruitment,

competitions, tests etc)

http://www.ukonline.gov.uk(policy briefs, information on the EU)

http://www.euractiv.com(EU News, Policy Positions and main EU “players”)

Produced by the Preselection test Guidance Mar 03 V.1EU Staffing Branch

http://www.euractiv.com/

http://www.ukonline.gov.uk/

http://www.europa.eu.int/epso

http://www.cec.org.uk/

http://www.europe.org.uk/

http://europa.eu.int/

pass the pre selection

Documents