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 fiscal （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 standing 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 dealing 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 partnership.
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 sector. We desperately 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 ideological （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 coordinated 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, thermal power from the south and a distribution grid 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) |