How many European Unions do we have today? What are the implications of the different types of EU membership? Are EU opt-outs an option? Hard-hitting questions and sensitive topics that, this time, Guy Verhofstadt had to face. Watch the 5-minute video excerpt from BBC’s HARDTalk and test your EU (English) knowledge at the same time! Before watching, guess the words and expressions that are missing in the text. Then watch to the video and check your answers. Enjoy!
Video credit: http://www.bbc.co.uk
We are on a (1) cr…………………………………………, because we can not continue creating more and more inner circles, new European Unions.
We have the (2) cont………………………………… that some Member States are not participating in a number of policies (for example (3) Sch………………) and then countries outside the European Union (like (4) Sw………………………………………) are participating in the EU.
I do not want to (5) dw………………….. on the question of peace in Europe, because there would be people who would challenge whether the EU, in truth, is the reason for that or whether it is just a happy (6) co…………………………on the timing. But I do want to (7) p……………………. you up on what a reshaped Europe might look like. Is there an (8) alt…………………………to „not in – not out” but some kind of new relationship for countries like Britain?
In the 50’s, there was the idea to establish two types of membership: full membership and (9) a………………………………………membership.
The (10) imp…………………of these are quite significant. If Britain was prepared to accept associated membership, it would be one in which there will be no or little (11) s………… in how these rules are decided on.
The British government has to understand that, next to their shopping list, there will be a (12) w…………………………. list on the table , a number of reforms desperately needed by the European Union.
Bonus question:
What does the word REBATE refer to in an EU context?
Answer Key
(1) crossroad (2) contradiction (3) Schengen (4) Switzerland (5) dwell (6) coincidence
(7) pick (8) alternative (9) associated (10) implications (11) say
(12) wish (please note that, in the interview, ’wishing list’ was mentioned but the correct expression is wish list)
REBATE: The amount of money paid back to the UK from the EU budget every year (negotiated by British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in 1984)
Photo credit: http://ec.europa.eu/avservices
