Question 1

What is the legal requirement that an applicant State must satisfy for admission to the EU?&#10;A) The applicant State must agree to accept all EU laws passed subsequent to their joining the EU.&#10;B) The applicant State must accept EU acquis.&#10;C) The applicant State must agree to accept all the legislative acts they vote for in the Council.

Accepted Answer

The legal requirement for an applicant State to satisfy for admission to the EU is to accept EU acquis, which refers to the body of EU law, policies, and principles that candidate countries must adopt and implement as part of their accession process. This includes everything from environmental regulations to human rights standards and economic policies. Accepting all EU laws passed subsequent to joining the EU (Choice A) is not a legal requirement, although it is typically expected. Choice C is incorrect, as the applicant State does not have to agree to accept all the legislative acts they vote for in the Council, as EU decision-making involves a complex system of rules and procedures that allows member states to opt-out or opt-in to certain policy areas.

Question 2

What was the total number Member States in the EU as at 1 January 2013?&#10;A) Ten&#10;B) Twenty-seven&#10;C) Fifteen

Accepted Answer

As at 1 January 2013, there were twenty-seven Member States in the European Union.

Question 3

When does a Treaty of Accession come into force?&#10;A) When the candidate State signs the Treaty of Accession.&#10;B) When the candidate State signs the Treaty of Accession along with the President of the Council.&#10;C) Upon the Treaty of Accession having been ratified by the candidate State and all Member States.

Accepted Answer

A Treaty of Accession comes into force only after it has been ratified by both the candidate state and all existing EU member states. Signing the treaty alone does not make it effective; it must be legally ratified.

Question 4

In what circumstances may the EU membership rights of a Member State be suspended?&#10;A) When a Member State refuses to comply with a judgment of the ECJ rendered against that State for a breach of EU law&#10;B) When the Council, following a determination by the European Council of the existence of a serious and persistent infringement of fundamental values of the Union by the Member State concerned, decides to suspend some or all membership rights&#10;C) When a Member State threatens to withdraw from the EU.

Accepted Answer

The EU membership rights of a Member State may be suspended when the Council, following a determination by the European Council of the existence of a serious and persistent infringement of fundamental values of the Union by the Member State concerned, decides to suspend some or all membership rights. The other options, such as refusing to comply with a judgment of the ECJ or threatening to withdraw from the EU, do not necessarily result in the suspension of membership rights.

Question 5

How can a Member State withdraw from the EU?&#10;A) There is a mechanism under the Treaties to allow a Member State to withdraw.&#10;B) The Member State wishing to withdrawal must give five years notice of its intention.&#10;C) There is no withdrawal from the EU.

Accepted Answer

There is a mechanism under Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union which allows a Member State to withdraw from the EU. The process involves notifying the European Council of its intention to withdraw, negotiating the terms of withdrawal with the EU, and obtaining the approval of the European Parliament and Council of the EU. The withdrawal will become effective two years after the notification unless an extension is agreed by all parties. There is no requirement for the five-year notice as mentioned in choice B, and choice C is incorrect as withdrawal from the EU is possible.

Deck 2: Membership of the EU