Europe opens big election debate

Europe opens big election debate 欧洲大选辩论开始
Campaigning has started for the 4-7 June elections to the European Parliament and the economic crisis is likely to be the dominant（主要的，占优势的） issue.
As the outgoing parliament's final session drew to a close（结束，告终） the BBC's Chris Mason asked five MEPs for their views on this election.
The European Parliament is so important for environmental laws and for laws governing the market. So people really ought to care who they send here. We have made a big step forward in controlling chemicals across Europe, with the so-called REACH directive.
The climate package has also been crucial（关键的，决定性的）, the reducing of carbon dioxide（二氧化碳）, pushing the renewable （可更新的）supplies of energy. I'd like to see it go further, but this is still an important step forward.
In the next five years we have to make a more social Europe. We need a fiscal¹ （财政的）harmonisation（协调一致） across Europe - similar taxes. And I think we have to continue to push the environmental agenda. The ecological（生态的，生态学的） transformation（变形，变质） of the economy - what we call the Green New Deal - must be on the agenda.
As for me - I am a European MEP. I am trying to find a European common interest. I am not defending a national position. It is the same message - the Green message - whether I am standing² in Germany or France.
The single most important issue is jobs. It's what people are raising with me all the time. They are worried about their own jobs. They are worried about their children getting jobs. They are worried about the effect on communities of post offices closing, shops closing, and services going.
The forecast is things are going to get worse - and people know that and are very concerned about it. They are now asking us as politicians what we are going to do.
The government in Wales has been dealing³ directly with the European Union and that has really paid off. We have seen recently £15m from the European Investment Bank to support small businesses in Wales, and I see my part in playing a role in that partnership⁴.
We need more investment in the Welsh economy and yet the British Prime Minister Gordon Brown is talking about cutting millions of pounds' worth of services in Wales. It is the worst time ever to be cutting public spending. We need those jobs. About a third of all jobs in Wales are in the public sector⁵. We desperately⁶ need those jobs, so I see it as my role to support the government in Wales to protect our services and to protect jobs.
The focus for me is getting us out of the economic crisis - and into something better. We need to become a knowledge economy and become more competitive if we are going to take a lead in the world. We need that in order to uphold prosperity（繁荣，兴旺） and welfare. I think that will be the crucial issue.
We are running the risk of regulating too much, rather than regulate to create a level playing field. That's a huge difference. You can regulate what people can do. And you can regulate in order to open up borders. I tend to believe in the second alternative.—（替换物，取舍，二选一）
I have two priorities. One is the economic crisis - how do we get out of it and how do we make sure that we make some regulations to ensure we don't have another crisis like it in the future.
My other priority is climate change. And the two issues are linked. One of the ways to get out of the economic crisis is to make investments in the green sector - meaning we need more green jobs. These two issues are on the top of the agenda and this is a good thing, because the Eurosceptics don't have any solutions. Where there is also an ideological⁷ （意识形态的）divide between the left wing and the right wing this gives scope for a good debate.
Our view is that the most important issue in this election for people is how Europe is going to get the economy back on track. How we are going to protect people who are at risk of losing their jobs or their homes? How we are going to get people into new jobs?
Our belief is that with a coordinated⁸ approach, from 27 countries, of investing in the technologies of the future - that means investing in renewable energy production, with wind and wave and tidal power（潮力） from northwestern Europe, solar, thermal⁹ power from the south and a distribution grid¹⁰ for high-voltage, direct-current electricity distribution, we can not only get people back to work, we can cut down our reliance on oil and gas, we can meet our Kyoto commitments and emerge with the best green technology in the world.
(本文由在线英语听力室整理编辑)

1 fiscal   

adj.财政的，会计的，国库的，国库岁入的

参考例句：

• The increase of taxation is an important fiscal policy.增税是一项重要的财政政策。
• The government has two basic strategies of fiscal policy available.政府有两个可行的财政政策基本战略。

2 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

3 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

4 partnership   

n.合作关系，伙伴关系

参考例句：

• The company has gone into partnership with Swiss Bank Corporation.这家公司已经和瑞士银行公司建立合作关系。
• Martin has taken him into general partnership in his company.马丁已让他成为公司的普通合伙人。

5 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

6 desperately   

adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地

参考例句：

• He was desperately seeking a way to see her again.他正拼命想办法再见她一面。
• He longed desperately to be back at home.他非常渴望回家。

7 ideological   

a.意识形态的

参考例句：

• He always tries to link his study with his ideological problems. 他总是把学习和自己的思想问题联系起来。
• He helped me enormously with advice on how to do ideological work. 他告诉我怎样做思想工作，对我有很大帮助。

8 coordinated   

adj.协调的

参考例句：

• The sound has to be coordinated with the picture. 声音必须和画面协调一致。
• The numerous existing statutes are complicated and poorly coordinated. 目前繁多的法令既十分复杂又缺乏快调。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

9 thermal   

adj.热的，由热造成的；保暖的

参考例句：

• They will build another thermal power station.他们要另外建一座热能发电站。
• Volcanic activity has created thermal springs and boiling mud pools.火山活动产生了温泉和沸腾的泥浆池。

10 grid   

n.高压输电线路网；地图坐标方格；格栅

参考例句：

• In this application,the carrier is used to encapsulate the grid.在这种情况下，要用载体把格栅密封起来。
• Modern gauges consist of metal foil in the form of a grid.现代应变仪则由网格形式的金属片组成。