NATO & EU — Set 6

Correct Answer: C. Italy

• **Italy** = Italy was one of the **12** original countries that signed the North Atlantic Treaty in **1949**, establishing NATO. • **1949** — The year the North Atlantic Treaty was signed, creating NATO. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Germany: Joined NATO in 1955; Turkey: Joined NATO in 1952; Poland: Joined NATO in 1999.

Correct Answer: B. Strasbourg

• **Strasbourg** = The official seat of the European Parliament is Strasbourg, France, where plenary sessions are held. • **12 times a year** — Plenary sessions of the European Parliament are held in Strasbourg this many times annually. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Brussels: Houses some European Parliament committees and mini-plenary sessions, but is not the official seat; Luxembourg: Home to the European Court of Justice and the General Secretariat of the European Parliament, but not the official seat for plenary; Berlin: The capital of Germany; no official EU institution seat is primarily located there.

Correct Answer: B. Finland

• **Finland** = Finland became the **31st** member of NATO in **2023**, marking a historic shift from its traditional policy of military non-alignment. • **April 4, 2023** — The exact date Finland officially became a NATO member. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Sweden: Is in the process of joining NATO but was not the 31st member; Ukraine: Has a partnership with NATO but is not a member; Georgia: Has an aspiring member status but is not a full member.

Correct Answer: B. Collective defense

• **Collective defense** = NATO's primary purpose is to safeguard the freedom and security of its members through political and military means, based on the principle of collective defense. • **Article 5** — This specific article of the NATO treaty embodies the principle of collective defense, stating an attack against one is an attack against all. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Economic trade: While members trade, NATO's focus is not primarily economic; Cultural exchange: This is a secondary aspect, not the main purpose of a military alliance; Environmental protection: While an important global issue, it's not NATO's core mission.

Correct Answer: A. Luxembourg

• **Luxembourg** = The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), the highest court of the EU, is located in Luxembourg City. • **EU law** — The CJEU ensures that EU law is interpreted and applied consistently across all member countries. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: The Hague: Home to the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court, which are UN-related, not EU; Brussels: Houses many EU political institutions but not the CJEU; Geneva: Home to many UN agencies and international organizations but not the CJEU.

Correct Answer: B. Norway

• **Norway** = Norway is a founding member of NATO but has consistently rejected full membership in the European Union through referendums. • **Referendums** — Norway has twice rejected full EU membership in national referendums (1972 and 1994). • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: France: A founding member of both NATO and the European Union; Greece: A member of both NATO and the European Union; Spain: A member of both NATO and the European Union.

Correct Answer: B. NATO

• **NATO** = The Warsaw Pact was a military alliance of communist nations, led by the Soviet Union, created as a direct historical rival to NATO during the Cold War. • **1955** — The year the Warsaw Pact was formally established in response to West Germany joining NATO. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: United Nations: A global international organization for peace and cooperation, not a military alliance rival; European Union: An economic and political union, not a military alliance; G20: An international forum for the governments and central bank governors from 19 countries and the European Union; it is not a military pact.

Correct Answer: B. European Commission

• **European Commission** = The European Commission is the executive branch of the EU, responsible for proposing and implementing laws and representing the interests of the EU as a whole. • **27 Commissioners** — The European Commission consists of 27 Commissioners, one from each EU member state. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: European Parliament: The legislative body of the EU, directly elected by citizens; NATO Council: The political decision-making body of NATO, not an EU institution; World Bank: An international financial institution, not an executive body of the EU.

Correct Answer: C. 31

• **31** = As of late **2023**, NATO has **31** member countries, following Finland's accession earlier that year. • **Finland** — Became the 31st member of NATO in **April 2023**. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: 27: This is the number of EU member states, not NATO; 30: This was the number of NATO members before Finland joined; 32: This will be the number once Sweden officially joins, but it was not the case in late 2023.

Correct Answer: B. European Union

• **European Union** = The Maastricht Treaty is officially known as the 'Treaty on **European Union**' and transformed the European Community into the European Union. • **Three-pillar structure** — This treaty established the three-pillar structure of the EU: European Communities, Common Foreign and Security Policy, and Justice and Home Affairs. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: European Security: While the EU contributes to security, this is not the treaty's official title; Atlantic Cooperation: This term is generally associated with NATO, not the Maastricht Treaty; Global Trade: While the EU is a major trading bloc, this is not the official name of the treaty.