The evolution of relations
The ideological and political division of Europe ended in 1989 with the fall of the Berlin Wall. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact in 1991, and with the emergence of security challenges in the post-Cold War environment, NATO began establishing new forms of dialogue and cooperation with the countries of central and Eastern Europe and the member countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).
Cooperation in complex field conditions in the Balkans significantly reinforced mutual trust and strengthened the political will to take NATO-Russia cooperation to a new level. That transformation occurred in May 1997, with the signature of the Founding Act on Mutual Relations, Cooperation and Security which provided the formal basis for NATO-Russia relations. It expressed the common goal of building a lasting peace and established the Permanent Joint Council as a forum for consultation and cooperation.
Several key events accelerated the process. On August, 12, 2000 the nuclear submarine Kursk sank killing 118 crewmen aboard, highlighting the urgent need for cooperation between NATO and Russia in responding to such tragic accidents. The terrorist attacks of the United States of September, 11, 2001 also emphasized the necessity of concerted international action to effectively combat terrorism and other common threats and challenges.
The NATO-Russia Council
After intensive negotiations the parties managed to achieve a breakthrough and issued a joint declaration “NATO-Russia Relations: a New Quality” in May, 2002.In this declaration the parties pledged to enhance their ability to work together as equals in areas of common interest and to stand together against common threats and risks to the security.
The NATO-Russia Council was also established by the agreement. The meetings of the Council are chaired by the NATO Secretary General and are held at different levels – at least once a month at the level of ambassadors, twice a year at ministerial level at summit level in urgent cases. Meetings are also held once a month between military representatives and twice a year at the level of chiefs of defense staff. The areas of common interests and concern for Russia and NATO include: combating terrorism, crisis management, non-proliferation, arms control and confidence-building measures, theatre missile defense, logistics, military-to-military cooperation, defense reform and civil emergencies.
The NRC has created several working groups and committees to develop cooperation in these areas and others, such as scientific cooperation and challenges of modern society. Views are also exchanged on current international issues affecting the security of the Euro-Atlantic area, such as the situation in the Balkans, Afghanistan, Georgia, Ukraine, Iraq, and the broader Middle East region.
Since its establishment, the NRC has evolved into a productive mechanism for consultation, consensus-building, cooperation, joint decision-making and joint action has become a fundamental pillar of the NATO-Russia partnership. The positive evolution of NATO-Russia cooperation offers good prospects for its future and its further development.
The fight against terrorism
Nowhere have positions between NATO member countries and Russia converged more clearly than in the fight against terrorism, which has become a major threat to international security and stability and requires an increasingly coordinated response. In the summer of 2004 a number of tragic events perpetrated by terrorists made the ambassadors strongly condemn terrorism in all its manifestations and renew their determination to strengthen and intensify common efforts to eliminate this shared threat.
Specific aspects of combating terrorism are also a key focus of activities in many areas of cooperation under the NRC, such as civil emergency planning, non-proliferation, airspace management, theatre missile defense, defense reform and scientific cooperation.
Addressing other new security threats
The aim is to establish a level of force interoperability that would enable NATO and Russia to work together quickly and effectively to counter ballistic missile threats against NATO and Russian troops engaged in a joint mission.
A NRC initiative on chemical, biological and protection is underway. Joint work is also being taken forward on nuclear issues and cooperation against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
The cooperation is also being undertaken in the field of airspace management to enhance air safety and transparency and to counter the threat of the potential use of civilian aircraft for terrorist purposes.
Defense Reform
Russia and NATO member countries share an interest in defense reform, given the common need for armed forces that are appropriately sized, trained and equipped to deal with the full spectrum of 21st century threats. The cooperation in the area of defense reform covers many different aspects including resource management, defense industry conversion, defense and force planning, and macro-economic, financial and social issues. Other areas of cooperation include managing military nuclear waste, strategic air transport and military infrastructure engineering, and logistics interoperability of NATO and Russian forces is also underway.
Military to Military Cooperation
A key objective of military-to-military cooperation is to improve interoperability between Russia and Allied forces, since modern militaries must be able to operate within multinational command and force structures when called upon to work together in peace-support and other crisis-management operations.
Progress in arms control
NATO and Russia also discuss issues related to arms control and confidence-building measures. Within this framework they reaffirmed their commitment to the Treaty on Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) as a cornerstone of European security.
Civil emergencies and disaster relief
The countries coordinate assistance from member countries to refugee relief operations during different conflicts, operations are also called upon to coordinate relief in the wake of flooding, earthquakes, landslides, fires and other disasters in different Partner countries.
Scientific and environmental cooperation
A key focus of current scientific cooperative activities under the NRC is the application of civil science to defense against terrorism and new threats, such as in explosives detection, examining the social and psychological impact of terrorism, protection against chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear agents, cyber-security and transport security. Environmental protection problems arising from civilian and military activities are another important area of cooperation.
Scanning
1. Say whether the statements are true or false. Give the correct variant:
1. NATO member countries have always regarded a positive relationship with Russia as a top priority.
2. The tragic events of September, 11 accelerated the revitalization of the bilateral relations between NATO and Russia.
3. The meetings of the NATO-Russia Council are held regularly.
4. The cooperation between NATO and Russia is fruitful.
5. NATO and Russia do not conduct any joint military training exercises as the problem is not acute.
2. Answer the questions on the text:
1. How could the relations between NATO and Russia be characterized after World War II?
2. What was the antagonism between the parties based on?
3. What issues are the relations between NATO and Russia focused on?
4. What body represents the joint efforts of NATO and Russia in establishing friendly relations?
5. What event marked a breakthrough in the relations between NATO and Russia?
6. What document established the basis for NATO-Russia relations?
7. When was NATO-Russia Council founded?
8. Who chairs the meetings of the Council?
9. What are the areas of common interest and concern for NATO and Russia?
10. What does the cooperation between NATO and Russia in the main spheres consist in?
ment on the following statements:
1. Since the end of the Cold War, NATO member countries have regarded the development of a positive relationship and cooperation with Russia as a priority.
2. Today NATO member states and Russia share strategic priorities and face common challenges.
3. Several key events accelerated the process of improving NATO-Russia relations.
4. Since its establishment the NATO-Russia Council has become a fundamental pillar of the NATO-Russia partnership.
5. Nowhere have positions between NATO and Russia converged more clearly than in the fight against terrorism.
6. Russia and NATO member countries share an interest in defense reform.
7. A key objective of military-to-military cooperation between NATO and Russia is to improve interoperability between Russia and Allied forces.
Speaking
plete the following table:
Spheres of Cooperation | Basic Activities |
2. Using the table, speak about the ways of cooperation between NATO and Russia.
Word Study
1. Translate the following words and word combinations from English into Russian:
Ideological; political and military confrontation; evolving; consult on security issues; areas of common interest; face common challenges; fight against terrorism; proliferation of weapons of mass destruction; collapse; contribute troops and logistical support; reinforce; strengthen; accelerate; pledge; enhance; stand against; non-proliferation; confidence-building measures; theatre missile defense; pillar; perpetrate; counter ballistic missile threats; be underway; be undertaken; defense industry conversion; militaries; cornerstone; flooding; earthquakes; landslides; impact; cyber-security; bilateral.
2. Translate the following words and word combinations from Russian into English:
Считать проблему приоритетной; консультировать по вопросам безопасности; развивать практическое сотрудничество; иметь общие стратегические приоритеты; бороться с терроризмом; распад; оружие массового поражения; вывести на новый уровень; достичь прорыва; ускорять; противостоять; бороться с терроризмом; контролировать вооружение; катастрофы; осуждать терроризм во всех проявлениях; совершать; предприниматься; действовать под международным руководством; краеугольный камень; операции по спасению беженцев; наводнения; землетрясения; оползни; влияние; безопасность информационного пространства; двусторонний; противоракетная оборона; ликвидировать; быть в процессе реализации; военные; Договор об Обычных Вооруженных Силах в Европе.
3. Find the words in the text that correspond to the following:
1. to have identical threats
2. to combat terrorism
3. to deal with terrorism
4. to break the impasse
5. something of great importance on which everything is based
6. army
7. active opposition or hatred especially between people or groups
8. to have the same opinion on the primary directions in the strategy
9. to remove or get rid of completely
10. to be in the course of development
11. to increase in strength or amount
4. Make up 10 sentences to translate from Russian into English using active vocabulary.
Talking Point
Express your opinion on the following questions:
1. Can you say that NATO-Russia cooperation is fruitful enough?
2. Is the cooperation between NATO and Russia mutually advantageous? What benefits do the parties get from it?
3. Is it possible for Russia to join NATO? Does the expansion of NATO to the east threaten Russia’s security?
Unit III
THE EUROPEAN UNION
Part 1
The History and Enlargement of the
European Union
Pronunciation
1. Note the pronunciation of the following words:
supranational
intergovernmental
nationalism
to devastate
atomic
accession
remit
rigorous
to submit
invariably
unanimously
a mandate
a core
2. Watch the pronunciation and spelling of these words:
legal
ratification
to confer
Maastricht
Amsterdam
Nice
Lisbon
criteria
minorities
adherence
to integrate
accountable
to finance
3. Consult the dictionary and note the pronunciation of the following geographical names
1. Austria
2. Belgium
3. Bulgaria
4. Cyprus
5. The Czech Republic
6. Denmark
7. Estonia
8. Finland
9. France
10.The Netherlands
11.Poland
12.Portugal
13.Romania
14.Slovakia
15.Slovenia
16.Spain
17.Sweden
18.The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
19.Germany
20.Greece
21.Hungary
22.The Irish Republic
23.Italy
24.Latvia
25.Lithuania
26.Luxemburg
27.Malta
Warm-Up
Work in groups and answer the following questions:
1. How many members does the EU comprise? Look at the list of the countries and say which of them are not the EU members.
Turkey
Russia
Denmark
Slovenia
Austria
Ukraine
Georgia
Latvia
Japan
Nigeria
Honduras
2. Which country holds the rotating presidency in the EU?
Reading
The European Union is a political and economic community of twenty seven member states with supranational and intergovernmental features, located primarily in Europe. It was established after the World War II.
The political climate after the end of the war favoured Western European unity, seen by many as an escape from the extreme forms of nationalism which had devastated the continent. One successful proposal for European cooperation came in 1951 with the European Coal and Steel Community, established by the Treaty of 1951, in Paris. This had the aim of bringing together control of the coal and steel industries of its member states (principally France and West Germany), with the purpose that a war between them would not be possible. Two additional communities were created in 1957: the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom). Both of them were established by the Treaty of Rome.
Since then the EU has grown in size through the accession of new member states and has increased its powers by the addition of new policy areas to its remit.
The Single European Act (SEA, 1987) significantly expanded the EEC’s scope, called for more intensive coordination of foreign policy among members.
In 1993 the Maastricht Treaty established the current legal framework. With the entry into force of the Treaty of Amsterdam (1999) the EU also has at its disposal – the common strategy.
The Treaty of Nice (2001) introduced the possibility of establishing closer cooperation in the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) field for the implementation of joint actions and common positions. This closer cooperation may not be used for matters with military or defence implications.
The Lisbon Treaty, also known as the Reform Treaty, signed in December 2007, initiates ratification process in 2008 and is amending the existing treaties.
The Treaties do not officially confer legal personality on the Union, but there is a consensus among the political players that this should be done.
The EU currently has 27 independent sovereign countries which are collectively known as member states: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the UK, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malta.
Any European country which respects the principles of liberty, democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law may apply to become a member of the Union. The Treaty on European Union sets out the conditions.
Applying for EU membership is the start of the long and rigorous process. The official starting point is that a country submits an application – although this invariably arises out of an already strong bilateral relationship with the EU. The application from a country wishing to join is submitted to the Council. The European Commission provides a formal opinion on the applicant country, and the Council decides whether to accept the application. Once the Council unanimously agrees a negotiating mandate, negotiations may be formally launched between the candidate and all the member states. This is not automatic though. The applicant country must meet a core of criteria before negotiations start.
The so-called “Copenhagen criteria” set out in December 1993 by the European Council in Copenhagen, require a candidate country to have:
- stable institutions that guarantee democracy, the rule of law, respect for human rights and protection of minorities;
- a functioning market economy, as well as the ability to cope with the pressure of competition and the market forces at work inside the Union;
- the ability to assume the obligations of membership, in particular adherence to the objectives of political, economic and monetary union.
In addition the EU must be able to integrate new members: it needs to ensure that its institutions and decision-making processes remain effective and accountable; it needs to be in a position, as it enlarges, to continue developing and implementing common policies in all areas; and it needs to be in a position to continue its policies in a sustainable manner.
Scanning
1. Say whether the following statements are true or false:
1. The European Coal and Steel Community had the aim of bringing together control over the coal and steel industries of its member states.
2. The European Union is a cultural community of twenty two member states.
3. The European Economic Community was established by the Treaty of Lisbon.
4. The EU has increased its powers by the addition of new policy areas through the members.
5. The Treaty of Rome introduced the possibility of establishing closer cooperation in the Common Foreign and Security Policy.
6. There is no consensus among the political players about what should be done.
7. The so-called “Shengen criteria” sets out the prerequisite requirements for a country to join the EU.
8. The application from a country wishing to join the EU is submitted to the European Parliament.
9. Austria, Poland, Hungary and Norway are all the current member states of the EU.
10. Only after having accepted the application by the Council may the candidate-country formally launch negotiations with all member states.
11. Functioning market economy is deemed to be crucial for a candidate-country.
12. The EU is not eager to integrate new members.
2. Answer the following questions:
1. What are the two main principles, which the activity of the European Union is based on?
2. What circumstances urged Europe to launch an integration process?
3. What is the name of the first European organization that made the further cooperation feasible?
4. What communities were established by the Treaty of Rome?
5. How many countries does the EU include?
6. When was the SEA established?
7. When was the field for the closer cooperation in the Common Foreign and Security Policy between the members established?
8. Is the Lisbon Treaty amending the existing treaties or is regarded as an additional one?
9. Do the treaties officially confer legal personality on the Union?
10. What are the prerequisite requirements for a country to join the EU?
11. What is the first stage of applying for EU membership for any country?
12. What does the treaty on EU set out?
13. What measures must be undertaken by the EU to integrate new members?
14. What role does the European Commission play in the country’s application process?
15. What core of criteria must be met by a candidate-country before the talks are launched?
16. Which administrative body of the EU sets out the “Copenhagen criteria”?
17. Why must a candidate country provide the adherence to the objectives of political, economic and monetary union?
18. What actions represent the top policy priority for the EU in terms of the process of its enlargement?
Word Study
1. Translate the following lexical units from the text from English into Russian, prepare questions with these lexical units, based on the text:
Supranational features, intergovernmental features, extreme forms of nationalism, to devastate, to bring together control (over), to call for, to initiate a ratification process, to establish the legal framework, to confer legal personality on, accession of (a country) to (the EU), remit, implementation of joint action, a rigorous process, to agree a mandate, to meet a core of criteria, the rule of law, protection of minorities, unanimously, invariably, to submit an application, in a sustainable manner, to integrate new members, to finance policies, to assume the implications of membership, to cope with the pressure of competition, accountable, adherence to the objectives of, a functioning market economy.
2. Translate the following word-combinations from Russian into English, restore the context of their use:
установить правовые рамки, наделять правосубъектностью, Закон о единой Европе, вступление (страны) в (ЕС), Европейское объединение угля и стали, осуществлять общий контроль (над), крайние формы проявления национализма, надгосударственные черты, Европейское экономическое сообщество, опустошать, требовать, Лиссабонский договор, усиленное координирование внешней политики, Амстердамский договор, договор Ниццы, начинать процесс ратификации, Европейской сообщество по атомной энергетике, принимать обязательства членства, принимать новых членов, финансировать политику, постоянно, действующая рыночная экономика, строгое соблюдение главных целей, понятный, принять мандат, неизменно, скрупулезный процесс, подать заявление, единогласно, соответствовать сути критериев, верховенство закона.
3. Find the words and word combinations that mean approximately the same in the text, use these lexical units in the examples of your own:
1. to cause so much damage to a place or area that most of it destroyed
2. the area of authority or responsibility of an individual or a group
3. to grant
4. the process of agreeing to a demand
5. conducted between or involving two or more governments
6. to need a particular action, behaviour, quality
7. the act of taking actions or making changes that you have officially decided should happen
8. jural scope
9. beyond the authority or jurisdiction of one national government
10. the belief that your own country is better than any other country
11. to begin or originate the process of making a written agreement official by signing it
4. Fill in the gaps using the words and word combinations from the previous exercises:
1. The European Union consists of 27 member states and it is characterized by ____ and ____ features.
2. One of the reasons for forming Western European Unity was an escape from the _____ _____ ____ ____ which had ____ the continent.
3. In 1957 there were created two additional communities, the first one is ______, and the second one is ______.
4. The most urgent action the European Single Act ____ ____ was ____ ____ ____ ____ ____.
5. The ____ of new members contributed to the EU size while the addition of new policy areas to its ______ has increased its powers.
6. One of the basic provisions of the Maastricht Treaty was the establishment of the ______.
5. How do you call people who live in the following countries?
1. Austria –
2. Belgium –
3. Bulgaria –
4. Cyprus –
5. The Czech Republic –
6. Portugal –
7. The Irish Republic –
8. The UK –
9. Lithuania –
10. Spain –
11. Sweden –
12. Germany –
13. The Netherlands –
14. Slovakia –
15. Slovenia –
16. Poland –
17. Denmark –
18. Hungary –
19. Italy –
20. Latvia –
21. Greece –
22. Malta –
23. Luxemburg –
24. Romania –
25. Estonia –
26. Finland –
27. France –
Translation
Translate the following sentences into English using active vocabulary:
1. Россия поддерживает деловые связи на взаимовыгодной основе с рядом западных стран, Канадой и США.
2. Плодотворное сотрудничество между нашей страной и Великобританией в различных областях началось с установления дипломатических отношений в 1924 году.
3. За последнее время значительно расширились политические, экономические и культурные связи между Россией и странами Евросоюза.
4. Европейский союз – это экономическая организация, основанная в 1951 году.
5. Широкое сотрудничество между странами-партнерами основано на принципах равенства и взаимного уважения.
6. Россия строит свои отношения с другими странами на принципах равенства и взаимовыгодного сотрудничества.
7. Россия постоянно увеличивает свой товарооборот со странами Евросоюза.
8. Обмен в области науки и культуры способствует взаимопониманию и сотрудничеству между народами.
Speaking
Use the following words and word-combinations to make up the summary of the text (not more than 15 sentences):
1. supranational features
2. intergovernmental features
3. extreme forms of nationalism
4. to devastate
5. to bring together control (over)
6. to call for
7. intensive coordination of foreign/home policy
8. accession of … to…
9. remit
10. to establish the legal framework
11. to initiate a ratification process
12. to confer legal personality on
13. to submit an application
14. unanimously
15. to agree a mandate
16. to meet a core of criteria
17. the rule of law
18. a functioning market economy
19. to cope with the pressure of competition
20. to assume the obligations of membership
21. adherence to the objectives of
22. to integrate new members
23. accountable
24. to finance policies
25. in a sustainable manner
Talking Point
1. How do the country members benefit from the membership in the EU?
2. What countries are the possible candidates to join the EU? Do they meet the requirements of the “Copenhagen criteria”?
3. Is Russia possible to join the EU? Explain your point of view.
Part 2
The Structure and Objectives of the EU
Pronunciation
1. Note the pronunciation of the following words:
consistency
solidarity
sustainable development
frontiers
monetary
to assert
to strengthen
acquis communautaire
corpus
2. Watch the pronunciation and spelling of the words and word-combinations:
human dignity
diversity
a pillar
coherence
commissioner
to monitor
compliance
execution
agenda
court
Warm-up
Work in groups and discuss the following questions:
1. Consult the dictionary and give definitions to the following words: council,
parliament, commission.
2. Being an organization of the supranational level what peculiarities of the structure can the EU possess?
Reading
Under the Treaty on European Union (the Maastricht Treaty) the main task of the Union is “to organize, in a manner demonstrating consistency and solidarity, relations between the Member States and between their peoples.”
To achieve this, the Union has set a number of objectives:
- to promote economic and social progress, sustainable development, an area without internal frontiers and economic and monetary union;
- to assert its identity on the international scene;
- to strengthen the protection of rights through the introduction of a citizenship of the Union;
- to create an area of freedom, security and justice;
- to build on the acquis communautaire – the corpus of rules established by and in the context of the Union.
The Union is founded on the values: respect for human dignity, liberty, democracy, equality, the rule of law and human rights. It has its own symbols: a flag (twelve stars on a blue background), an anthem (Ludvig van Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy”), a motto (“United in diversity”), a currency (euro) and a Europe day (9, May).
The Union is a form of legal organization consisting of three pillars:
- the first corresponding to the European Community;
- the second comprising the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP);
- the third consisting of police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters.
It has a single institutional framework for the three pillars (essentially consisting of the European Council, the European Parliament, the Council of the Union and the European Commission). This ensures coherence and consistency in the Union’s actions across the pillars.
The European Commission consists of permanent civil service directed by commissioners. It has three primary functions: to formulate community policies, to monitor compliance with community decisions, and to oversee the execution of community law.
The Commission has shared its agenda-setting role with the European Council, which consists of the leaders of all member-countries. Established in 1974, the European Council meets at least twice a year to define a long-term agenda for European political and economic integration. The Council of the EU is the main decision-making institution of the EC and the EU. It consists of ministerial representatives. All community legislation requires the approval of the Council.
The European Parliament serves not only as a consultative body, but also it’s given joint decision-making power over community expenditures. The European Parliament is organized into transnational party groups based on political ideology – the Party of European Socialists, the European People’s Party, etc.
The European Court of Justice (ECJ) interprets community law, settles conflicts between the organizations, institutions, and determines whether members have fulfilled their treaty obligations.
Scanning
1. Say whether these statements are true or false:
1. The main task of the Union is “to organize, in a manner demonstrating consistency and solidarity, relations between the Member States and between their peoples”.
2. One of the objectives of the Union is to destroy an area of freedom, security and justice.
3. The Union has its own flag, an anthem, a motto, a currency.
4. There is not Europe day as a symbol of the Union.
5. The Union is a form of legal organization consisting of five pillars.
6. The third pillar of the Union consists of the police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters.
7. The Union has a single institutional framework for the three pillars.
8. The European Commission has shared its agenda-setting role with the European Parliament.
9. The European Council was established in 1974 and meets at least ten times a year to define a long-term agenda for European political and economic integration.
10. The European Parliament serves as a consultative body of the Union.
2. Answer the following questions:
1. What is the main task of the European Union under the Maastricht Treaty?
2. What are the main objectives set by the European Union?
3. What are the values which the Union is founded on?
4. Does the EU have a flag? What does it look like?
5. The legal organization of the EU consists of the three pillars, doesn’t it? What are they?
6. What primary functions does the European Commission have?
7. When was the European Council established?
8. What is the main decision-making institution of the European Community?
9. Does all community legislation require the approval of the Council?
10. What are the main functions of the European Court of Justice?
Word Study
1. Translate the following lexical units from the text from English into Russian, prepare questions with these lexical units, based on the text:
to demonstrate consistency and solidarity, sustainable development, internal frontiers, a monetary union, to assert one’s identity, to strengthen the protection of rights, the corpus of rules, respect for human dignity, diversity, a pillar, a single institutional framework, a commissioner, to monitor compliance with, to oversee the execution of a law, to define a long-term agenda, an agenda-setting role, a joint decision-making power, to settle conflicts, to fulfil treaty obligations.
2. Translate the following word-combinations from Russian into English, restore the context of their use:
внутренние границы, усилить защиту прав, выполнять обязательства договора, совместная власть принятия решений, Еврокомиссия, следить за выполнением закона, основной принцип, уважение человеческого достоинства, отстаивать собственную индивидуальность, устойчивое развитие, свод правил, урегулировать конфликты, роль определяющего повестку дня, гарантировать сплоченность действий и постоянство, Общая внешняя политика и политика безопасности, Европейская политика безопасности и обороны, строить долгосрочные планы.
3. Find the words and word-combinations that mean approximately the same in the text, use these lexical units in the examples of your own:
1. to express the quality of always being the same or always being good and loyalty and general agreement between all the people in a group, or between different groups because they all have a shared aim
2. common experience
3. a responsibility or obligation of determining the basic objectives of a meeting
4. a basic principle
5. to control, manage the process of carrying out a rule that people in a particular area must obey
6. to guarantee coordination of actions and perseverance
7. a collection of all the official instructions that say how things must be done
8. borders within the Union
9. constant, permanent growth of smth, so that it becomes bigger or more advanced
10. to resolve disputes
11. the quality of having variety and including a wide range of different people
12. the ability to behave in a way that shows you respect yourself and stay calm, even in a very difficult situation
13. a member of a commission
4. Find the odd-one-out:
1. consistency-coherence-variability-permanency
2. to uphold-to support-to sustain-to contribute
3. to assert-to aver-to confirm-to allege
4. variety-diversity-multiplicity-similarity
5. agreement-compliance-discord-consent
5. Fill in the gaps of the following sentences using active vocabulary:
1. Under the Maastricht Treaty the main task of the Union is to organize relations between the member states and their peoples so that the can ___________.
2. The first objective of the Union consists in promoting _________, an area without _______.
3. The second objective deals with _______ on the international scene.
4. The third objective concerns _______.
5. The Union should be built on _______ - the corpus ________ established by and in the context of the Union.
6. Among the values the Union is founded on the main one is _______.
7. The Union’s motto is “United in _______”.
Speaking
1. What do theses abbreviations stand for? Characterize each of them:
EC
CFSP
ESDP
ECJ
2. Use the following words and word combinations to make up the summary of the text (not less than 15 sentences):
1. to demonstrate consistency and solidarity
2. a monetary union
3. to assert one’s identity
4. to strengthen the protection of rights
5. acquis communautaire
6. the corpus of rules
7. diversity
8. a pillar
9. to ensure coherence and consistency
10. a commissioner
11. to define a long-term agenda
12. an agenda-setting role
13. a joint decision-making power
14. to settle conflicts
15. to fulfil treaty obligations
Translation
Translate the following text from Russian into English using a dictionary:
1. Основные институты Евросоюза
Европейский совет
Высший политический орган ЕС, состоящий из глав государств и правительств стран-членов и их заместителей — министров иностранных дел. Членом Европейского Совета является также председатель Еврокомиссии.
Совет определяет основные стратегические направления развития ЕС. Выработка генеральной линии политической интеграции — основная миссия Европейского совета. Наряду с Советом Министров Европейский Совет наделён политической функцией, заключающейся в изменении основополагающих договоров европейской интеграции.
Европейская комиссия
Европейская Комиссия — высший орган исполнительной власти Европейского союза. Состоит из 27 членов, по одному от каждого государства-члена. При исполнении своих полномочий они независимы, действуют только в интересах ЕС, не вправе заниматься какой-либо другой деятельностью. Государства-члены не вправе влиять на членов Еврокомиссии.
Штаб-квартира Европейской Комиссии находится в Брюсселе.
Совет ЕС
Совет Европейского союза, или, неофициально, «Совет Министров», наделён рядом функций как исполнительной, так и законодательной власти, а потому нередко рассматривается как ключевой институт в процессе принятия решений на уровне Европейского союза.
Европейский Парламент является собранием из 785 депутатов, напрямую избираемых гражданами стран-членов ЕС сроком на пять лет. Председатель Европарламента избирается на два с половиной года. Члены Европейского парламента объединяются не по национальному признаку, а в соответствии с политической ориентацией.
Основная роль Европарламента — утверждение бюджета ЕС. Кроме того, практически любое решение Совета ЕС требует либо одобрения Парламента, либо по крайней мере запроса его мнения. Парламент контролирует работу Комиссии и обладает правом ее роспуска (которым, впрочем, он никогда не пользовался).
Европейский суд
Европейский суд (официальное название — Суд Европейских сообществ) проводит свои заседания в Люксембурге и является судебным органом ЕС высшей инстанции.
В соответствии с Маастрихтским договором Суду предоставлено право налагать штрафы на государства-члены, не выполняющие его постановления.
Суд сыграл огромную роль в становлении и развитии права ЕС. Многие, даже основополагающие принципы правопорядка Союза основаны не на международных договорах, а на прецедентных решениях Суда.
Talking point
Express your opinion on the following questions:
1. Which is the most influential part of the EU? How is it expressed?
2. Can you say that the EU works effectively? Which parts of it would you rather were reformed?
3. Does the EU need a standing army? Explain your viewpoint.
МЕЖДУНАРОДНЫЕ ОРГАНИЗАЦИИ
Составители:
Оксана Романовна Жерновая
Юлия Сергеевна Бузуева
Надежда Алексеевна Глазунова
Учебно-методическое пособие
Государственное образовательное учреждение высшего
профессионального образования «Нижегородский государственный
университет им. ».
Нижний Новгород, пр. Гагарина, 23.
Подписано в печать. Формат 60´84 1/16.
Бумага офсетная. Печать офсетная. Гарнитура Таймс.
Усл. печ. л. 2,5. Уч.-изд. л.
Заказ № . Тираж 300 экз.
Отпечатано в типографии Нижегородского госуниверситета
им.
г. Нижний Новгород,
Лицензия ПД от 14.05.01
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