HOW TO PASS

THE
PRESELECTION
TESTS

Supplement to A CANDIDATE’S
GUIDE

PRODUCED BY THE
EU STAFFING BRANCH
OF THE CABINET OFFICE
Preselection test Guidance Mar 03 V.1
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.

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.

DISCLAIMERS
People 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 or
b) spent time in Brussels or an EU administrative centre or
c) 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.

Timetable
EPSO 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.
Preselection test Guidance Mar 03 V.1
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 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 experience
c) copies of all supporting documents detailed in this annex.

Note
i) 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 summarise
Preselection test Guidance Mar 03 V.1
c) your drafting ability in your main language
d) 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 employment
b) a larger reserve list is drawn up than is necessary
c) 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 questions

ii) in your mother tongue
iii) 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.

Preselection test Guidance Mar 03 V.1

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 questions
ii) in your mother tongue
iii) 60% verbal and 40% numerical
iv) 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:

Preselection test Guidance Mar 03 V.1

 i) about 30/40 questions
ii) in your second language
iii) combined with the Field test
iv) 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 day
ii) Check how to mark the box on the answer sheet i.e. cross or tick
iii) 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 box
v) 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).

Preselection test Guidance Mar 03 V.1

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
Preselection test Guidance Mar 03 V.1
• 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 tests
The Official Journal
Candidates 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.
Preselection test Guidance Mar 03 V.1
• 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.

Preselection test Guidance Mar 03 V.1

 ANNEX 1

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

and ‘Environment’

Applicants Reserve list

Agriculturalists 1630 120

Fisheries 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 100

Fisheries 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

Preselection test Guidance Mar 03 V.1

 ANNEX 2
Answer Sheet

Preselection test Guidance Mar 03 V.1

Preselection test Guidance Mar 03 V.1
 ANNEX 3

Past Papers

Preselection test Guidance Mar 03 V.1

Preselection test Guidance Mar 03 V.1
 SAMPLE MULTIPLE CHOICE
QUESTIONS

1. SPECIALISED FIELD

Questions 21— 27 are from an external

relations competition.

Questions 30 — 33 are from a taxation

competition.

Preselection test Guidance Mar 03 V.1

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 East
c) is the slogan for land reform in Zimbabwe
d) 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 Albania

b) deals with security, economic and human dimension issues
c) is involved in security, economic and trade issues
d) is based in Helsinki

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

a) the Casablanca conference

b) the Potsdam conference
c) the Tehran conference
d) 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 EU

b) to list all European Union exporters
c) to list and address all trade bafflers affecting EU exporters
d) 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 corruption
b) to provide financial assistance to developing countries
c) to promote liberalisation of world trade in agriculture
d) 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 birth
b) the adult literacy rate
c) access to basic healthcare
d) 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 LDCs
b) a decision by the industrialised countries to give 0.7 % of their GNP in official aid
to the LDCs
c) the adoption by consensus of a programme of action for the LDCs
d) an agreement linking the giving of official aid to the introduction of good
governance
Preselection test Guidance Mar 03 V.1
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 investigation
b) 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 authorities
c) 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 other
c) 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 shares
d) 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 statute
c) applies to companies that under national law have opted to be subject to corporation tax
d) 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 Directive
b) an automatic exemption at source will apply to interest and royalty payments covered by the Directive
c) the anti-abuse clause will be deleted when implementation of the tax package as a whole is agreed
d) Spain will be granted the same transitional rules as Greece and Portugal

Preselection test Guidance Mar 03 V.1

Preselection test Guidance Mar 03 V.1
 SAMPLE MULTIPLE CHOICE
QUESTIONS

2. NUMERICAL AND VERBAL

REASONING

Preselection test Guidance Mar 03 V.1

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.

Preselection test Guidance Mar 03 V.1

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
to
learn 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.
Preselection test Guidance Mar 03 V.1
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.

Preselection test Guidance Mar 03 V.1

Preselection test Guidance Mar 03 V.1
Preselection test Guidance Mar 03 V.1
 SAMPLE MULTIPLE CHOICE
QUESTIONS

3. EU KNOWLEDGE

These will be in your second EU

language.
There are samples in French and
German taken from the Commission
web site.
We have also provided a few in English
to give you extra practice

Preselection test Guidance Mar 03 V.1

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

a) déficit public
b) taux d'inflation
c) croissance économique
d) 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) céréales
b) lait
c) viande
d) yin

53. LActe unique européen a été signé en:

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

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

a) Fonds social européen

b) Fonds européen de développement
c) LIFE
d) PHARE

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

a)Jean Monnet
b)Robert Schuman
c)Alcide de Gasperi
d) Walter Hallstein

Preselection test Guidance Mar 03 V.1

 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'initiative

b) a seule le droit d'initiative
c) partage le droit d'initiative avec
les Etats membres
d) 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

nationales
b) des institutions et organismes
communautaires
c) des Représentations
Permanentes des Etats membres à Bruxelles
d) du Parlement europ6en
exclusivement

64. Le Fonds Européen de Développement finance:

a) les investissements dans les

régions en retard de déveIoppement des Etats membres
b) les grands réseaux
transeuropéens
c) Le déveIoppement de Ia
technologie de linformation
d) 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) 1990
b) 1991
c) 1992
d) 1994

Réponses
41 C
45 B

Preselection test Guidance Mar 03 V.1

50 D
53 B
56 A
58 D
60 C
61 B
64 D
67 A

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

a) das öffentliche Defizit

b) die Inflationsrate
c) 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 Atomgemeinschaft
d) 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) Getreide
b) Milch
c) Fleisch
d) Wein

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

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

56. Welches Instrument zähIt zu den Strukturfonds der Union?

a) der Europäische Sozialfonds

b) der Europäische Entwicklungsfonds
c) LIFE
d) PHARE

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

a) Jean Monnet
b) Robert Schumann
Preselection test Guidance Mar 03 V.1
c) Alcide de Gasperi
d) Waiter Hallstein

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

a) Die Kommission hat kein Initiativrecht

b) Die Kommission allein hat das lnitiativrecht
c) Die Kommission teilt das Initiativrecht mit den Mitgliedstaaten
d) 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 Mitgliedstaaten

b) der Organe oder Institutionen der Gemeinschaft
c) der ständigen Vertretungen der Mitgliedstaaten in Brüssel
d) ausschließlich des Europäischen Parlaments

64 Der Europäische Entwicklungsfonds finanziert

a) Investitionen in den Gebieten der Mitgliedstaaten mit Entwicklungsriickstand

b) die großen transeuropäischen Netze
c) die Entwicklung der Informationstechnologie
d) die Zusammenarbeit mit bestimmten Entwicklungsländern

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

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

Antworte
41C
45 B
50 D
53 B
56 A
58 D
60 C
61 B
64 D
67 A

Preselection test Guidance Mar 03 V.1

1. Which European Union Agency is based in Munich?
a) European Patent Office
b) European Monitoring Centre for Drugs & Drug Addiction
c) Joint European Torus
d) 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) was
set up in Culham, near Oxford, UK; London is the home of the European Agency for the
Evaluation of
Medicinal Products.

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

scheme:
a) comprises internships lasting 5 months
b) is available to young nationals of EU member states
c) runs twice a year
d) 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 Committee
b) will have 350 members following enlargement of the EU
c) draws its members from various economic and social interest groups
d) 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 states
b)deals only with financial matters
c)refers all its decisions to COREPER 1
d)is composed of Deputy-Permanent Representatives

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

Produced by the Preselection test Guidance Mar 03 V.1

EU Staffing Branch
 ANNEX 4

USEFUL WEBSITES

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.1

EU Staffing Branch