VOA标准英语2013--EU Membership Fails to Spark Enthusiasm in Croatia

 

EU Membership Fails to Spark Enthusiasm in Croatia

In Brussels, the fireworks are already being set off as the Croatian flag joins 27 other member countries in the political heart of the European Union.

So how will life change for the ordinary Croatian? James Ker-Lindsay from the London School of Economics and Political Science explains.

“A lot of the day-to-day elements of life, if you like, have already probably come into force with the laws that have been changed as part of E.U. harmonization," said Ker-Lindsay. "But, of course, it is that sense of actually being there, being part of the club, having that freedom of movement across the European Union.”

Full membership means that Croatia will be able to sell its products tariff-free across the E.U. President of the Croatian Chamber¹ Of Commerce, Nadan Vidosevic, says the country is joining the E.U. with its eyes open.

“We will jump in the cold water and start swimming, you know," said Vidosevic. "But, we decide to jump in the water, because we believe it will be at the end, something that will make pleasure to us. What is the meaning of pleasure, it is the welfare for the citizens of my country."

But after five years of economic crisis in Europe, polls show a lack of enthusiasm by Croatians. Again, James Ker-Lindsay.

“Polls show in actual fact trust in European institutions is lower in Croatia than even in the United Kingdom, which is really saying something."

Croatia is enduring its own economic crisis. Government debt is growing, and two ratings agencies have downgraded government bonds to junk status. The E.U. has already set aside $855 million to subsidize Croatia this year.

While Croatia will gain access to the E.U. market, the reverse also applies - and many analysts², including European Policy Center's Corina Stratulat, say uncompetitive businesses will struggle with the competition.

"We have worked very hard during the ten-year-long engagement and now both parts, I think, are entering this marriage very much aware of the fact that hard work lies ahead," said Stratulat.

The E.U. funds will help renovate³ Croatia’s heritage in cities like Dubrovnik.

In 1991, the city came under siege from the Yugoslav army and navy. Over the following years Croatia and her neighbors were consumed by the Balkan conflict.

Ker-Lindsay says many believe the E.U. should have done more back then.

“There were a lot of voices in southeast Europe which were appalled⁴ when the E.U. was awarded the Nobel (Peace) Prize last year," he said. "They just felt that this was completely unacceptable, that the E.U. hadn’t done nearly as much as it could have done in the 1990s. But I think it’s fair to say that a lot of the peace and stability that we see in the region now is a direct consequence of the project, the process of E.U enlargement.”

Ker-Lindsay says that transformation⁵ is providing encouragement for other E.U. candidates like Serbia.

1 chamber   

n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所

参考例句：

• For many,the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber.对许多人来说，牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
• The chamber was ablaze with light.会议厅里灯火辉煌。

2 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。

3 renovate   

vt.更新，革新，刷新

参考例句：

• The couple spent thousands renovating the house.这对夫妇花了几千元来翻新房子。
• They are going to renovate the old furniture.他们准备将旧家具整修一番。

4 appalled   

v.使惊骇，使充满恐惧( appall的过去式和过去分词)adj.惊骇的；丧胆的

参考例句：

• The brutality of the crime has appalled the public. 罪行之残暴使公众大为震惊。
• They were appalled by the reports of the nuclear war. 他们被核战争的报道吓坏了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 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。