NATO & EU — Set 3

Correct Answer: A. Norway

• **Norway** = This European country is a founding member of NATO but has consistently voted against joining the European Union in referendums. • **European Economic Area (EEA)** — Norway maintains close ties with the EU through this agreement, despite not being a full member. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Option B]: 'Germany' is a member of both NATO and the EU; [Option C]: 'Poland' is a member of both NATO and the EU; [Option D]: 'Portugal' is a member of both NATO and the EU.

Correct Answer: C. Streamline EU decision-making

• **Streamline EU decision-making** = The Lisbon Treaty was primarily designed to make the EU more efficient and democratic. • **2009** — The year the Lisbon Treaty became effective, giving more power to the European Parliament and creating the office of President of the European Council. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Option A]: 'Create a new military force' was not the primary purpose of the treaty; [Option B]: 'Replace the Euro currency' is incorrect, the Euro remained; [Option D]: 'Admit all Asian countries' is not relevant to the treaty's scope or purpose.

Correct Answer: D. 2%

• **2% of GDP** = This is the minimum percentage of GDP that NATO members are encouraged to spend on defense. • **2014 Wales Summit** — NATO members agreed at this summit to aim for the 2% defense spending target by **2024**. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Option A]: '1%' is below the agreed target; [Option B]: '5%' is a significantly higher figure than the current target; [Option C]: '3%' is higher than the current target.

Correct Answer: A. High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

• **High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy** = This official represents the European Union on the world stage in terms of foreign policy. • **Lisbon Treaty** — This treaty significantly strengthened the role of the High Representative, who also serves as a Vice-President of the European Commission. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Option B]: 'President of Parliament' leads the legislative body, not foreign policy; [Option C]: 'Director General of Trade' focuses specifically on trade policy; [Option D]: 'Chief Justice of the EU' refers to the head of the European Court of Justice, a judicial role.

Correct Answer: C. NATO

• **NATO** = The 'Warsaw Pact' was a historical rival to this organization, created by the Soviet Union and its satellite states. • **1955** — The year the Warsaw Pact was established as a direct reaction to West Germany's integration into NATO, and it was dissolved in **1991**. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Option A]: 'European Union' is primarily an economic and political union, not a military rival to the Warsaw Pact; [Option B]: 'United Nations' is a global organization for peace, not a specific military rival bloc; [Option D]: 'ASEAN' is an organization of Southeast Asian nations, geographically and ideologically distinct.

Correct Answer: D. Decisions are taken as closely as possible to the citizens

• **Decisions are taken as closely as possible to the citizens** = The 'Principle of Subsidiarity' in the EU means that the Union only acts when it is more effective than national or local action. • **Fundamental principle** — Subsidiarity is a fundamental principle in the functioning of the EU, protecting member states' decision-making power. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Option A]: 'The EU makes all laws for members' contradicts subsidiarity; [Option B]: 'All countries must use the same language' is not related to subsidiarity; [Option C]: 'Rich countries pay for poor countries' relates to cohesion policy, not subsidiarity.

Correct Answer: A. Canada

• **Canada** = This is the only NATO member located entirely in North America besides the USA. • **1949** — The year NATO was founded, and Canada, a founding member, has contributed significantly to NATO missions since then. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Option B]: 'Mexico' is not a NATO member; [Option C]: 'Greenland' is a territory of Denmark, which is a NATO member, but not an independent country and not a direct NATO member itself; [Option D]: 'Cuba' is not a NATO member.

Correct Answer: C. Luxembourg City

• **Luxembourg City** = The 'European Court of Justice' (ECJ), the supreme court of the European Union, is located here. • **EU law** — The ECJ ensures that EU law is interpreted and applied consistently across all member states. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Option A]: 'Brussels' is a main seat of EU political institutions like the Commission and Council; [Option B]: 'The Hague' is home to the International Court of Justice, not the ECJ; [Option D]: 'Strasbourg' is the seat of the European Parliament and the European Court of Human Rights, not the ECJ.

Correct Answer: D. The body where national ministers meet

• **The body where national ministers meet** = The 'Council of the European Union' is where ministers from each member state gather to discuss and adopt EU laws. • **EU laws** — This Council is responsible for discussing and adopting EU laws, with different ministers attending based on the topic. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Option A]: 'A group of EU citizens' refers to the general populace, not a specific body; [Option B]: 'A court for human rights' refers to the European Court of Human Rights (not an EU institution) or the ECJ (different function); [Option C]: 'The EU's central bank' is the European Central Bank (ECB), a distinct institution.

Correct Answer: A. English and French

• **English and French** = These are NATO's two official languages, used for all official documents and proceedings. • **Two official languages** — NATO conducts all its official business in these two languages, reflecting the historical and political influence of its founding nations. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Option B]: 'English only' is incorrect as French is also an official language; [Option C]: 'English, French, and German' is incorrect as German is not an official language; [Option D]: 'Each member's national language' would be impractical and is not the policy.