VI. Insert the articles where necessary.

Summit meetings among … top leaders of the member states are called at least once every six months by … country holding the presidency of the Council of Ministers. This meeting of … heads of state and government is called the European Council. The summits were instituted on … regular basis in 1975. The European Council became … official part of the EC structure in 1987.

… European Parliament is … only body of the EU whose members are directly elected by … citizens of its member states. The main body meets in Strasbourg, France, though most of its committee work is done in Brussels and … secretariat is based in Luxembourg. Individual committees of … European Parliament review legislation proposed by … European Commission. The parliament may veto … proposal after it reaches the Council of Ministers if it disagrees with … council’s position.

VII. Translate the following text from English into Russian in writing.

Committees

The Economic and Social Committee is one of the most important of the EU bodies. Its 189 members are appointed to four-year terms by the Council of Ministers to represent employer and employee groups, as well as other interest groups. The committee has a strictly advisory role, but the Council of Ministers and the European Commission are obligated to consult the committee on many legislative issues. Another important group is the Committee of the Regions, created by the Treaty on European Union. The committee has 189 members that are allocated based on the population of each country. It has no legislative power, but must be consulted on matters relating to certain economic and social issues.

Court of Justice

The final arbiter in all matters of EU law is the Court of Justice. The court is composed of 13 judges who are appointed to six-year terms, with at least one judge from each member country. The court deals with disputes between member governments and EU institutions and among EU institutions, and with appeals against EC rulings or decisions. Courts within the member states often refer cases involving an unclear point of EU law to the Court of Justice. The court makes binding rulings on EU law to help guide the rulings of national courts. The rulings of the Court of Justice set legal precedents and become part of the legal framework of each member state.

VIII. Explain the italicized grammar constructions in the following sentences.

1. Any talks on a new bilateral trade agreement between the US and the European Union must "take into account" sensitive areas of agricultural sub­sidies and audio-visual trade, a senior US official said yesterday.

2. But the undersecretary suggested it might not be possible to exclude agri­culture and audio-visual services from negotiations, as the European Com­mission proposes.

3. The American State Secretary would undertake it in a European rather than a local venue.

4. The Israeli leader needing to demonstrate transigence, suggested London as the meeting place.

5. But if a date can be arranged to negotiate final settlement, the London Round will be memorable.

IX. Give Russian equivalents for the following words and phrases used in the text:

to make policy proposals; to manage funds and programs; summit meeting; top leaders; to gain new influence; to veto a proposal; a strictly advisory role; to set legal precedents; to become part of the legal framework.

X. Render the text “The European Union” using the plan.

Plan for rendering the text

1. The headline of the text.

2. The contents of the text:

- the beginning of the text

- the bulk of the text

- the end of the text

3.Central idea (State it briefly and in your own words).

4. Summary. (Be sure to make your summary not more than a third or a half as long as the original).