2010 General Studies, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2010 · General Studies

Question 132: International Relations and Current Affairs

In the context of bilateral trade negotiations between India and European Union, what is the difference between European Commission and European Council ?

  1. 1.European Commission represents the EU in trade negotiations whereas European Council participates in the legislation of matters pertaining to economic policies of the European Union.
  2. 2.European Commission comprises the Heads of State or government of member countries whereas the European Council comprises of the persons nominated by European Parliament.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

a1 only
b2 only
cBoth 1 and 2
dNeither 1 nor 2

AnswerThe answer is (a).

In EU trade matters the European Commission, the EU's executive body, negotiates trade agreements for the whole Union (on a mandate from the member states), so it represents the EU in talks with India. The European Council brings together the heads of state or government and sets the EU's general political direction, including on economic policy. Statement 2 reverses the composition: the Commission is made up of Commissioners, one from each member state and approved by the European Parliament, while the European Council consists of the heads of state or government.

  • 1. The Commission represents the EU in trade negotiations; the European Council sets economic policy direction.
  • 2. The European Council has the heads of state or government; the Commission has Commissioners.

How you could have got this

  1. If you were sure statement 1 is correct, (b) and (d) go: each of them leaves 1 out.

    What you needed to know: The Commission represents the EU in trade negotiations; the European Council sets economic policy direction.

  2. Then, if you were sure statement 2 is not correct, (c) goes: it includes 2.

    What you needed to know: The European Council has the heads of state or government; the Commission has Commissioners.

Only (a) is left. This one needs every statement.

This follows an unofficial answer: UPSC has not published its key for this year, and if that answer is wrong, so is this path.

Which options go is worked out from UPSC’s key and the options, not by a model.

Why each option is right or wrong
  • (a) Right: statement 1 is correct and statement 2 reverses the composition.
  • (b) Statement 2 reverses who sits in each body.
  • (c) Statement 2 is wrong, so 'both' fails.
  • (d) Statement 1 is correct, so 'neither' fails.

Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

Practise this paper timedPrevious questionNext question

Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2010, General Studies, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.