One or more general exception are needed to organise exception handling in the application. 

'''Option 1:''' GeoNetworkException extends java.lang.RuntimeException 
This is a non checked exception.
 * Advantage: less boilerplate code
 * Disadvantages: requires well tested code


'''Option 2:''' GeoNetworkException extends java.lang.Exception
This is a checked exception. Users of api's who can throw this exception need code to catch the exception. 
 * Advantage: it is explicit which exceptions can be thrown
 * Disadvantages: code gets dirty with try catches


'''Chosen option 1''': 
The application is well unit tested. It is important that the code remains clean. 

For now only one exception is implemented (org.geonetwork.domain.ebxml.exception.GeoNetworkException). We can add and diversify more of course.