VOA常速英语2007年-EU Leaders Adopt Reforms to Strengthen Bloc

By Lisa Bryant
Paris
13 December 2007

European Union leaders are adopting a groundbreaking treaty in Lisbon aimed to streamline² and grant more powers to the 27-member institution. From Paris, Lisa Bryant reports the document is the result of a lengthy³ and difficult process.

The new European Union treaty includes plans for a European foreign affairs chief and a more permanent president than the current system, in which the presidency⁴ shifts from member country to country every six months. It also aims to streamline the body, by cutting the size of the European Parliament and the number of EU decisions that would require unanimous vote.

In general, it aims to give the European Union a more effective foreign policy, stronger leadership, and more democratic decision making.

But it is a lot less ambitious than a charter the bloc⁵ tried to ratify⁶ in 2005. French and Dutch voters rejected the document, blocking its adoption⁷.

European Parliament President Hans-Gert Poettering was among many European politicians to hail the new treaty, saying it underscored the bloc's enormous transformation⁸ over the years. He talked about the changes he had personally witnessed since joining the European Parliament in 1979.

"In 1979, the European parliament had zero," he said, "no legislative⁹ power, and already now, before the reform treaty comes into force we are [handling] about 75 percent of European legislation. And with the reform treaty it increases, this co-decision increases, to 100 percent. This is more democracy, this is more parliamentarism and this gives us more the possibility to defend the beliefs, the rights and the ambitions of the citizens of the European Union."

Pottering also hailed a new charter of fundamental rights for European citizens that comes with the treaty, although not all EU members are signing on to this attachment¹⁰.

Most EU governments say a referendum is not necessary to ratify the document - opting¹ for a vote in parliament instead. Only Ireland is constitutionally bound to vote on it. That will make the chances of scuttling¹¹ this EU treaty much less likely.

1 opting   

v.选择，挑选( opt的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• What courses are most students opting for? 多数学生选什么课程？ 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Wells doesn't rule out opting out and then re-signing with Houston. 威尔斯没有排除跳出合同再与火箭重签的可能。 来自互联网

2 streamline   

vt.使成流线型；使简化；使现代化

参考例句：

• We must streamline our methods.我们必须简化方法。
• Any liquid or gas passing it will have streamline flow.任何通过它的液体或气体将呈流线型的流动。

3 lengthy   

adj.漫长的，冗长的

参考例句：

• We devoted a lengthy and full discussion to this topic.我们对这个题目进行了长时间的充分讨论。
• The professor wrote a lengthy book on Napoleon.教授写了一部有关拿破仑的巨著。

4 presidency   

n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期)

参考例句：

• Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
• Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。

5 bloc   

n.集团；联盟

参考例句：

• A solid bloc of union members support the decision.工会会员团结起来支持该决定。
• There have been growing tensions within the trading bloc.贸易同盟国的关系越来越紧张。

6 ratify   

v.批准，认可，追认

参考例句：

• The heads of two governments met to ratify the peace treaty.两国政府首脑会晤批准和平条约。
• The agreement have to be ratify by the board.该协议必须由董事会批准。

7 adoption   

n.采用，采纳，通过；收养

参考例句：

• An adoption agency had sent the boys to two different families.一个收养机构把他们送给两个不同的家庭。
• The adoption of this policy would relieve them of a tremendous burden.采取这一政策会给他们解除一个巨大的负担。

8 transformation   

n.变化；改造；转变

参考例句：

• Going to college brought about a dramatic transformation in her outlook.上大学使她的观念发生了巨大的变化。
• He was struggling to make the transformation from single man to responsible husband.他正在努力使自己由单身汉变为可靠的丈夫。

9 legislative   

n.立法机构，立法权；adj.立法的，有立法权的

参考例句：

• Congress is the legislative branch of the U.S. government.国会是美国政府的立法部门。
• Today's hearing was just the first step in the legislative process.今天的听证会只是展开立法程序的第一步。

10 attachment   

n.附属物，附件；依恋；依附

参考例句：

• She has a great attachment to her sister.她十分依恋她的姐姐。
• She's on attachment to the Ministry of Defense.她现在隶属于国防部。

11 scuttling   

n.船底穿孔，打开通海阀（沉船用）v.使船沉没( scuttle的现在分词 )；快跑，急走

参考例句：

• I could hear an animal scuttling about in the undergrowth. 我可以听到一只动物在矮树丛中跑来跑去。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• First of all, scuttling Yu Lung (this yuncheng Hejin) , flood discharge. 大禹首先凿开龙门（今运城河津市），分洪下泄。 来自互联网