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VOA慢速英语2020 德国成为欧盟轮值主席后面临的棘手问题

时间:2020-07-05 14:34:07

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(单词翻译)

Europe faces big economic, trade and public health issues as Germany takes over the presidency1 of the Council of the European Union.

随着德国接任欧盟理事会主席一职,欧洲面临着重大的经济、贸易和公共卫生问题。

The EU's most powerful member became president of the Council on July 1. It will head the 27-member political and economic bloc2 for the next six months.

这个欧盟最强大的成员国于7月1日成为了欧盟理事会主席。它将在接下来的6个月里领导这个由27个成员组成的政治和经济集团。

As the EU's president, German officials will be dealing3 with the COVID-19 health crisis and the economic damage it has caused in Europe. Other issues include the effects of Britain's withdrawal4 from the EU, the bloc's trade with China and tensions with the United States.

作为欧盟主席,德国官员将应对新冠肺炎卫生危机及其在欧洲造成的经济损失。其它问题还包括英国脱欧影响、中欧贸易以及欧美紧张关系。

Germany's return to the presidency comes as its leader, Chancellor5 Angela Merkel, is expected to leave office next year. With her country taking control of the EU presidency, she will need to persuade European leaders to compromise.

德国重新担任主席正值其总理默克尔预计将于明年卸任之际。随着德国担任欧盟轮值主席,默克尔将需要说服欧洲领导人达成妥协。

One of the first issues facing the bloc is settling differences on an $843 billion spending plan aimed at speeding up Europe's economic recovery. EU members also need to reach agreement on a multi-year budget, which is expected to cost more than $1 trillion.

这个政治集团面临的首要问题之一是解决对一项旨在加速欧洲经济复苏的8430亿美元支出方案的分歧。欧盟成员国还需要就一项多年预算达成协议,该预算预计将会耗费超过1万亿美元。

On Monday, Merkel said she hoped the 27-member bloc would agree to a deal on the budget and additional spending later this month. She spoke6 at talks with French President Emmanuel Macron when they met in Germany.

默克尔周一表示,她希望这个由27个成员国组成的政治集团在本月晚些时候能够就预算和额外支出达成一致。她与法国总统马克龙在德国会晤时发表了这番言论。

The German presidency comes as Merkel is riding a crest7 of popularity. Part of the reason is what some people see as her success dealing with the pandemic.

德国担任轮值主席正值默克尔的声望高峰。部分是有人将其视为德国成功应对大流行的原因所在。

Another reason might be her decision to work with France to push for a large coronavirus recovery spending measure. The goal is to help European countries, which have struggled economically because of restrictions8 aimed at limiting the spread of the virus. Usually, Germany is considered one of the EU's more frugal9 members and opposes new spending.

另一个原因可能是她决定与法国合作推动一项大规模新冠病毒危机下复苏的支出措施。其目标是帮助因为限制新冠病毒传播措施而经济窘迫的欧洲国家。德国通常被认为是欧盟更为节俭的国家之一,该国反对新的支出。

In addition, the EU and Britain have intensified10 negotiations11 aiming to define their relationship after Britain's withdrawal from the bloc. Among the issues are rules governing trade between the two sides. The British government is hoping to reach an agreement soon.

此外,欧盟和英国加强了旨在确定英国脱欧后双方关系的谈判。这些问题包括控制双方贸易的规则。英国政府希望尽快达成协议。

John Springford is deputy director of the Centre for European Reform, a research group in London. Springford said he believes that the interests of Germany and France are closely linked and have helped Europe.

约翰·斯普林福德是欧洲改革中心的副主任,这是一家总部位于伦顿的研究组织。斯普林福德表示,他认为德国和法国的利益联系紧密,这对欧洲有好处。

"...There's a realization12 that she wants to have been a chancellor that has made Europe stronger," he noted13.

他指出:“有一种认识是,默克尔想要成为一个使欧洲更为强大的德国总理。”

Sebastien Maillard is head of the Jacques Delors Institute in Paris. He believes that Merkel is thinking about her legacy14 and is taking steps to make this EU presidency more meaningful.

塞巴斯蒂安·梅拉德是巴黎雅克·德洛斯学院的院长。他认为默克尔正在考虑自己的政治遗产,并且正在采取措施使欧洲轮值主席国更具意义。

‘It's really a time for her to make history, so this presidency surely will make a difference compared to previous ones," he said.

他说:“这确实是默克尔创造历史的时机,所以这届主席任期与之前相比,无疑会有所作为。”

But making a difference will not to be easy. The Reuters news agency reports that Germany wants fairer trade relations with China. European companies say China does not give them the same ability to sell products in its markets as Chinese businesses have in Europe.

但是要有所作为并非易事。路透社报道称,德国希望与中国建立更公平的贸易关系。欧洲公司表示,中国并未赋予他们在该国市场跟中国企业在欧洲市场销售产品相同的能力。

Tensions between the EU and the United States have grown during the presidency of Donald Trump15. The U.S. military plans to withdraw thousands of troops from Germany.

在特朗普担任美国总统期间,欧洲和美国之间的紧张关系日益加剧。美国军方计划从德国撤走数千名士兵。

Maillard noted, however, that Germany and the U.S. continue to have a close relationship.

但是梅拉德指出,德国和美国仍然保持着密切关系。

"...We share many common values, and there is much for both economies to share together," he said. He added that the U.S. should treat the EU as a whole and not as a divided group.

他说:“我们有许多共同的价值观,两个经济体有许多可以共同分担的东西。”他还表示,美国应该将欧盟视为一个整体,而不是一个分裂的政治集团。

But observers like Daniel Gros wonder how much Germany can do as a European Council president. Gros directs the Center for European Policy Studies in Brussels.

但是像丹尼尔·格罗斯之类的观察人士想要知道德国作为欧洲理事会主席能做些什么。格罗斯领导着布鲁塞尔的欧洲政策研究中心。

"The presidency of a big country cannot achieve a lot. Because if it tries to push its own priorities, the other countries will react..." he said.

他说:“大国担任轮值主席国无法取得很大成就。因为如果它试图推动自身的优先事项,其它国家将会做出反应。”

I'm Mario Ritter, Jr.

小马里奥·利特为您播报。

Words in This Story

bloc – n. a group of countries connected by a treaty or agreement

crest – n. the highest part of something such as a wave or a hill

pandemic – n. an outbreak of disease that takes place over a wide area and affects a large percent of the population

frugal – adj. careful about spending money

legacy – n. something that is left for people in the future

achieve – v. to reach a goal by working hard

priorities – n. things that are more important than others


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点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 presidency J1HzD     
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。
2 bloc RxFzsg     
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。
3 dealing NvjzWP     
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 withdrawal Cfhwq     
n.取回,提款;撤退,撤军;收回,撤销
参考例句:
  • The police were forced to make a tactical withdrawal.警方被迫进行战术撤退。
  • They insisted upon a withdrawal of the statement and a public apology.他们坚持要收回那些话并公开道歉。
5 chancellor aUAyA     
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。
6 spoke XryyC     
n.(车轮的)辐条;轮辐;破坏某人的计划;阻挠某人的行动 v.讲,谈(speak的过去式);说;演说;从某种观点来说
参考例句:
  • They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
  • The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。
7 crest raqyA     
n.顶点;饰章;羽冠;vt.达到顶点;vi.形成浪尖
参考例句:
  • The rooster bristled his crest.公鸡竖起了鸡冠。
  • He reached the crest of the hill before dawn.他于黎明前到达山顶。
8 restrictions 81e12dac658cfd4c590486dd6f7523cf     
约束( restriction的名词复数 ); 管制; 制约因素; 带限制性的条件(或规则)
参考例句:
  • I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
  • a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制
9 frugal af0zf     
adj.节俭的,节约的,少量的,微量的
参考例句:
  • He was a VIP,but he had a frugal life.他是位要人,但生活俭朴。
  • The old woman is frugal to the extreme.那老妇人节约到了极点。
10 intensified 4b3b31dab91d010ec3f02bff8b189d1a     
v.(使)增强, (使)加剧( intensify的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • Violence intensified during the night. 在夜间暴力活动加剧了。
  • The drought has intensified. 旱情加剧了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
11 negotiations af4b5f3e98e178dd3c4bac64b625ecd0     
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。
12 realization nTwxS     
n.实现;认识到,深刻了解
参考例句:
  • We shall gladly lend every effort in our power toward its realization.我们将乐意为它的实现而竭尽全力。
  • He came to the realization that he would never make a good teacher.他逐渐认识到自己永远不会成为好老师。
13 noted 5n4zXc     
adj.著名的,知名的
参考例句:
  • The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
  • Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。
14 legacy 59YzD     
n.遗产,遗赠;先人(或过去)留下的东西
参考例句:
  • They are the most precious cultural legacy our forefathers left.它们是我们祖先留下来的最宝贵的文化遗产。
  • He thinks the legacy is a gift from the Gods.他认为这笔遗产是天赐之物。
15 trump LU1zK     
n.王牌,法宝;v.打出王牌,吹喇叭
参考例句:
  • He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
  • The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手,作为他的王牌。

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