EU confirms Portugal's intention to seek bailout

     BRUSSELS, April 6 (Xinhua) -- The European Commission（委员会） confirmed on Wednesday Portugal's intention to request a bailout, pledging to deal with the request as soon as possible.

    "The Portuguese¹ Prime Minister, Jose Socrates, today informed the President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Durao Barroso, of the intention of Portugal to ask for the activation² of the financial support mechanisms," the Commission said in a statement released on Wednesday night.

    "The President of the European Commission assured that this request will be processed in the swiftest possible manner, according to the rules applicable," the statement said.

    Barroso reaffirmed in the three-paragraph statement his confidence in Portugal's capacity to overcome the present difficulties, with the solidarity³ of its partners.

    There has been wide expectation that it's only a matter of time before Portugal asks for a bailout from the European Union after Portuguese Prime Minister Socrates resigned on March 23 following rejection⁴ of his austerity plan by the parliament.

    Portugal would become the third eurozone country that has to seek financial aid from the EU after Greece and Ireland.(本文由在线英语听力室整理编辑)

1 Portuguese   

n.葡萄牙人；葡萄牙语

参考例句：

• They styled their house in the Portuguese manner.他们仿照葡萄牙的风格设计自己的房子。
• Her family is Portuguese in origin.她的家族是葡萄牙血统。

2 activation   

n. 激活，催化作用

参考例句：

• A computer controls the activation of an air bag.电脑控制着气囊的启动。

3 solidarity   

n.团结；休戚相关

参考例句：

• They must preserve their solidarity.他们必须维护他们的团结。
• The solidarity among China's various nationalities is as firm as a rock.中国各族人民之间的团结坚如磐石。

4 rejection   

n.拒绝，被拒，抛弃，被弃

参考例句：

• He decided not to approach her for fear of rejection.他因怕遭拒绝决定不再去找她。
• The rejection plunged her into the dark depths of despair.遭到拒绝使她陷入了绝望的深渊。