VOA标准英语2011--Most EU Countries Accept New Fiscal Deal

Most EU Countries Accept New Fiscal¹ Deal

 

Most members of the European Union agreed to a new deal Friday that is intended to address debt problems that have threatened the common euro currency and driven Europe into an economic crisis. The agreement increases EU supervision² of government budgets of member nations.

France and Germany pushed hard for the deal.

After tough negotiations³ in Brussels, all 17 European Union members that use the euro, and some other EU nations, agreed to the plan.

That pleased German Chancellor⁴ Angela Merkel.

"I am very pleased with the results of yesterday's talks - this is not a foreign compromise for the sake of the Euro. Across the world, people will see that we've learned from mistakes made in the past," said Merkel.

EU leaders hope financial markets will be reassured⁵ by the plan's long-term solution to the eurozone government debt crisis. Greece, Portugal and Ireland have already received international bailouts because of their debt, and some analysts⁶ feared even greater needs from Spain and Italy.

EU leaders also agreed to give the International Monetary⁷ Fund another $260 billion for programs to keep the current crisis from spreading.

Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron (C) looks at Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel (L) at a European Union summit in Brussels, December 9, 2011.

But Britain rejected the deal. It is the strongest of the EU nations that do not use the euro and a major financial center. A proposed tax on financial transactions was one of several issues that raised concerns for British Prime Minister David Cameron.

"What is on offer isn't in Britain's interests and I didn't agree to it," said Cameron.

Stock markets and the value of the euro rose Friday after the deal was announced.

Economists⁸ were split about whether the deal would do enough to prevent future fiscal crises and solve the current problems.

In Frankfurt, Germany, Chris Zwermann, of Zwermann Financial, said it may be just as well that Britain did not agree to the deal.

"We get the possibility to make decisions for the Euro countries, which means 17 countries without any influence from other countries who don't belong into this area," said Zwermann.

Deutsche Bank's Stefan Schneider welcomes the agreement to enforce deficit⁹ limits.

"Because otherwise, you know, something, 'just let's pull the check book and write a check' - I think that ultimately would cause a serious problem in terms of democracy," said Schneider.

The deal needs final ratification¹⁰ by member countries, and could be signed by March.

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 supervision   

n.监督，管理

参考例句：

• The work was done under my supervision.这项工作是在我的监督之下完成的。
• The old man's will was executed under the personal supervision of the lawyer.老人的遗嘱是在律师的亲自监督下执行的。

3 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

4 chancellor   

n.(英)大臣；法官；(德、奥)总理；大学校长

参考例句：

• They submitted their reports to the Chancellor yesterday.他们昨天向财政大臣递交了报告。
• He was regarded as the most successful Chancellor of modern times.他被认为是现代最成功的财政大臣。

5 reassured   

adj.使消除疑虑的；使放心的v.再保证，恢复信心( reassure的过去式和过去分词)

参考例句：

• The captain's confidence during the storm reassured the passengers. 在风暴中船长的信念使旅客们恢复了信心。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• The doctor reassured the old lady. 医生叫那位老妇人放心。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

7 monetary   

adj.货币的，钱的；通货的；金融的；财政的

参考例句：

• The monetary system of some countries used to be based on gold.过去有些国家的货币制度是金本位制的。
• Education in the wilderness is not a matter of monetary means.荒凉地区的教育不是钱财问题。

8 economists   

n.经济学家，经济专家( economist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The sudden rise in share prices has confounded economists. 股价的突然上涨使经济学家大惑不解。
• Foreign bankers and economists cautiously welcomed the minister's initiative. 外国银行家和经济学家对部长的倡议反应谨慎。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 deficit   

n.亏空，亏损；赤字，逆差

参考例句：

• The directors have reported a deficit of 2.5 million dollars.董事们报告赤字为250万美元。
• We have a great deficit this year.我们今年有很大亏损。

10 ratification   

n.批准，认可

参考例句：

• The treaty is awaiting ratification.条约正等待批准。
• The treaty is subject to ratification.此条约经批准后才能生效。