EPSO EU Knowledge / Field-Related Test

Which EU institution represents the governments of the Member States and, along with the European Parliament, acts as the primary co-legislator?

• AThe Council of the European Union
• BThe European Council
• CThe European Commission
• DThe European Assembly

How many European Commissioners currently serve in the College of Commissioners, including the President and the High Representative?

• AOne commissioner from each Member State, totaling 27
• BA fixed College of 20 commissioners rotated alphabetically
• CTwo commissioners from larger Member States and one from smaller ones
• D15 commissioners selected based on geographic representation

What is the term of office for the permanent President of the European Council?

• A5 years, non-renewable
• B4 years, renewable indefinitely
• C2.5 years, renewable once
• D1 year, rotated alphabetically among member states

Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are elected by direct universal suffrage. How often are these elections held?

• AEvery 4 years
• BEvery 6 years
• CEvery 3 years
• DEvery 5 years

Which EU institution holds the sole right of legislative initiative in the ordinary legislative procedure?

• AThe European Commission
• BThe European Parliament
• CThe Council of the European Union
• DThe Court of Justice of the European Union

Where is the official seat of the European Parliament, where monthly plenary sessions are held?

• ABrussels, Belgium
• BLuxembourg City, Luxembourg
• CStrasbourg, France
• DGeneva, Switzerland

What voting system constitutes a Qualified Majority (QMV) in the Council of the EU for most decisions under the Treaty of Lisbon rules?

• AUnanimity of all Member States
• BSimple majority of Member States representing 50% of the population
• CDouble majority: 55% of Member States representing at least 65% of the EU population
• DTwo-thirds of Member States representing at least 70% of the EU population

Which EU institution is responsible for ensuring that EU law is observed and interpreted uniformly across all Member States?

• AThe Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU)
• BThe European Commission
• CThe Court of Auditors
• DThe Council of Europe

How is the President of the European Commission selected according to the rules of the Treaty of Lisbon?

• AAppointed solely by the European Council without Parliament involvement
• BElected by the European Parliament by a simple majority of votes cast
• CDirectly elected by the citizens of the EU during the European Parliament elections
• DProposed by the European Council, taking into account the European Parliament elections,…

The Committee of the Regions and the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) play what role in the EU legislative process?

• ACo-legislative role alongside the European Parliament
• BSolely budgetary scrutiny and administrative oversight
• CAdvisory role, meaning they must be consulted in areas specified by the treaties
• DJudicial review of regional and social directives

Which EU body is composed of the heads of state or government of the Member States, its own President, and the President of the European Commission?

• AThe Council of the European Union
• BThe Council of Europe
• CThe European Council
• DThe Committee of Permanent Representatives (COREPER)

What is the relationship between the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the European Commission?

• AThe High Representative is a member of the Council of the EU who is completely independen…
• BThe High Representative is one of the Vice-Presidents of the European Commission
• CThe High Representative is the President of the European Parliament
• DThe High Representative is a judge of the Court of Justice appointed to handle internatio…

What is the role of COREPER (Committee of Permanent Representatives) in the EU decision-making process?

• AIt is a judicial body that resolves disputes between EU agencies
• BIt is a committee of national diplomats that prepares the work and agendas of the Council…
• CIt is a citizens' assembly that advises the Commission on green policies
• DIt is the internal audit service of the European Parliament

The European Central Bank (ECB) has its seat in Frankfurt, Germany. What is its primary objective as defined by the Treaties?

• ATo manage the EU budget and allocate structural funds to Member States
• BTo maintain price stability within the euro area
• CTo negotiate international trade agreements on behalf of the Eurozone
• DTo supervise national commercial banking registries

Under the Ordinary Legislative Procedure, what happens if the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union cannot agree on a legislative proposal after two readings?

• AThe European Commission makes the final decision on the text
• BA Conciliation Committee is convened to negotiate a joint agreement
• CThe proposal is automatically vetoed and cannot be reintroduced for five years
• DThe Court of Justice of the European Union resolves the dispute

Which EU institution has the power to dismiss the European Commission as a body through a motion of censure?

• AThe European Council by a qualified majority
• BThe European Parliament by a two-thirds majority of votes cast
• CThe Council of the European Union by a unanimous vote
• DThe Court of Justice of the European Union upon recommendation of the Council of Europe

In which specific case does the Council of the European Union vote by a simple majority rather than a qualified majority or unanimity?

• AAdopting legislative acts related to tax harmonisation
• BElecting the President of the European Council
• CApproving the annual budget of the European Union
• DProcedural matters, such as adopting its own Rules of Procedure

How are the members of the Court of Justice of the European Union (judges and advocates-general) officially appointed?

• ABy common accord of the governments of the Member States for a renewable term of 6 years
• BBy the European Parliament for a non-renewable term of 9 years
• CProposed by the Commission and confirmed by the Council for a term of 5 years
• DSelected by the President of the CJEU for a life term

What is the voting threshold required in the European Parliament to approve the European Commission College as a body?

• AA two-thirds majority of all MEPs
• BAn absolute majority of all Member States
• CNo vote is required; the Parliament only interviews commissioners
• DA vote of consent by a majority of the votes cast

Under what circumstances can the European Ombudsman be dismissed from office?

• ABy the European Parliament alone by a two-thirds majority
• BBy the European Commission for administrative negligence
• CBy the Council of the European Union by a unanimous vote
• DBy the Court of Justice, at the request of the European Parliament, if the Ombudsman no l…

What is the primary distinction between an EU Regulation and an EU Directive?

• AA regulation is directly applicable in all Member States, whereas a directive must be tra…
• BA regulation is non-binding, whereas a directive is strictly binding on all individuals.
• CA regulation only applies to EU institutions, whereas a directive applies to Member State…
• DA regulation requires approval by the European Council, whereas a directive does not.

Which Treaty established the European Union and introduced the "Three Pillars" structure?

• ATreaty of Rome
• BTreaty of Maastricht
• CTreaty of Lisbon
• DSingle European Act

Under which legislative procedure does the European Parliament share equal co-legislative power with the Council of the European Union?

• AConsultation procedure
• BConsent procedure
• COrdinary legislative procedure
• DAssent procedure

What does the principle of "supremacy" (or primacy) of EU law mean in relation to national legislation?

• AEU institutions can veto any national election results
• BNational constitutions always take precedence over EU regulations
• CEU law only applies when national courts agree to implement it
• DEU law overrides conflicting national provisions of member states

Which EU Treaty, signed in 2007 and entering into force in 2009, forms the current constitutional and legal framework of the European Union?

• ATreaty of Lisbon
• BTreaty of Nice
• CTreaty of Amsterdam
• DTreaty of Brussels

What does the principle of "direct effect" allow individuals to do?

• ADirectly elect the President of the European Commission
• BPropose EU laws through a citizens' initiative without Parliament involvement
• CInvoke a provision of EU law directly before a national court
• DDirect national tax revenues to EU agencies

What is the meaning of the principle of "subsidiarity" as defined in the Treaties?

• AAll EU legislation must be approved by regional assemblies
• BEU law is subordinate to regional regulations
• CThe Union acts only if and in so far as the objectives of the proposed action cannot be s…
• DMember states may suspend any EU directive at their own discretion

Under the Treaty of Lisbon, which document was made legally binding and given the same legal status as the Treaties?

• AThe Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union
• BThe European Convention on Human Rights
• CThe Universal Declaration of Human Rights
• DThe Schengen Agreement

In the context of judicial procedures, what is a "preliminary ruling" by the Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU)?

• AA final binding decision in a criminal trial of an EU official
• BAn advisory opinion requested by the European Commission before a treaty is signed
• CA temporary injunction issued by the President of the CJEU during a trade dispute
• DA ruling issued by the CJEU on the interpretation of EU law at the request of a national…

What is the purpose of the "infringement procedure" (Article 258 TFEU) initiated by the European Commission?

• ATo punish MEPs who violate the Parliament's ethical guidelines
• BTo audit the financial transactions of EU agencies
• CTo address a Member State's failure to fulfill its obligations under EU law
• DTo settle boundary disputes between EU Member States

What is an "action for annulment" (Article 263 TFEU) under EU law?

• AA request by a Member State to leave the European Union
• BA procedure asking the CJEU to declare an EU legislative act void due to illegality
• CAn administrative request to cancel a public procurement tender
• DA motion to dissolve the European Parliament early

Under the principle of "proportionality," what constraint is placed on EU action?

• AEU action must be distributed equally among all Member States
• BThe content and form of Union action shall not exceed what is necessary to achieve the ob…
• CThe EU budget must represent a fixed percentage of each Member State's GDP
• DRepresentation in the European Parliament must match the exact census of each state

What are the three pillars established by the Maastricht Treaty that were later consolidated by the Treaty of Lisbon?

• AAgriculture, Trade, and Transport
• BEuropean Commission, European Parliament, and Council of the EU
• CLegislative, Executive, and Judicial powers
• DEuropean Communities, Common Foreign and Security Policy, and Police and Judicial Coopera…

What is the "yellow card" procedure under the Subsidiarity Control Mechanism?

• AA disciplinary warning given to an MEP by the President of the Parliament
• BA temporary suspension of a Member State's voting rights in the Council
• CA mechanism where national parliaments can object to a draft EU legislative act on subsid…
• DAn warning issued by the Commission to a Member State before starting an infringement law…

What is the difference between a "delegated act" and an "implementing act" under Articles 290 and 291 TFEU?

• AA delegated act supplements or amends non-essential elements of a legislative act, while…
• BA delegated act is binding, whereas an implementing act is purely advisory.
• CA delegated act is adopted by the Parliament, whereas an implementing act is adopted by n…
• DA delegated act applies to external relations, whereas an implementing act applies to int…

Which of the following is a non-binding legal act of the European Union?

• ARegulation
• BRecommendation
• CDecision
• DDirective

Under the Treaty on European Union (TEU), what is the procedure for a Member State to voluntarily withdraw from the Union under Article 50?

• AThe Member State must obtain unanimous approval from all other national parliaments befor…
• BThe Member State notifies the Commission, which votes on a release decree
• CThe Member State leaves immediately without any international treaty obligation
• DThe Member State notifies the European Council of its intention, an agreement is negotiat…

In EU law, what is the significance of the landmark "Francovich" ruling by the Court of Justice?

• AIt established the supremacy of EU law over national law.
• BIt established that Member States can be liable to pay damages to individuals who suffer…
• CIt ruled that national courts must interpret domestic legislation in light of the wording…
• DIt declared that the Charter of Fundamental Rights is directly applicable to private corp…

What is the legal effect of an EU Decision that specifies those to whom it is addressed under Article 288 TFEU?

• AIt is binding in its entirety, but only upon those to whom it is addressed.
• BIt is a non-binding guideline for regional authorities.
• CIt requires transposition into national code before taking effect.
• DIt is directly applicable to all EU citizens and entities.

Under Article 352 TFEU (the "flexibility clause"), what is the voting requirement in the Council to adopt measures necessary to attain treaty objectives when the treaties have not provided the necessary powers?

• AA simple majority in the Council and a two-thirds majority in Parliament
• BA qualified majority in the Council and a simple majority in Parliament
• CA double majority in the Council and assent of the Commission
• DUnanimous vote in the Council on a proposal from the Commission and after obtaining the c…

Which Schengen zone policy allows individuals to cross internal borders without passport controls?

• AThe abolition of passport and border controls at internal Schengen borders
• BThe introduction of a common European currency for all internal travel
• CThe harmonization of national income tax rates across the EU
• DThe creation of a single European army for border defense

What are the "four freedoms" that form the cornerstone of the EU Single Market?

• AFreedom of speech, religion, press, and assembly
• BFree movement of goods, services, capital, and persons
• CFree healthcare, education, transport, and communication
• DFreedom of trade, industry, labor, and investment

What is the primary climate goal of the European Green Deal?

• ATo eliminate all agricultural farming by 2030
• BTo ban all combustion engine vehicles by 2025
• CTo make Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050
• DTo double the number of national parks in each Member State

Which currency is the official currency of the Eurozone, used by participating EU Member States?

• AThe European Dollar
• BThe ECU
• CThe Crown
• DThe Euro

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a key EU regulation. What does it protect?

• AThe personal data and privacy of individuals within the EU and EEA
• BIntellectual property rights of European tech startups
• CThe security of central bank database infrastructure
• DThe freedom of corporate advertising on search engines

Which EU body is responsible for negotiating international trade agreements on behalf of all Member States?

• AThe European Council
• BThe European Parliament
• CThe European Commission
• DThe World Trade Organization (European branch)

What is the "Fit for 55" package under the European Green Deal?

• AA package of legislative proposals to reduce EU greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55%…
• BA fitness and public health initiative for citizens over the age of 55
• CA set of transport regulations to limit commercial vehicle speeds to 55 km/h
• DA plan to retire all coal-fired power plants within 55 months