欧洲央行将停止发行500欧元面值纸币

 The European Central Bank has decided¹ to stop producing E500 notes, in a move it depicts² as a crackdown on crime but which critics in German-speaking countries say is part of an onslaught on cash and savings³.

欧洲央行(ECB)决定停止发行500欧元面值的纸币，并称此举是为了打击犯罪。但德语国家的批评者表示，这是对现金和储蓄的打压。

Top eurozone officials argue that the E500 bill, the euro’s highest denomination⁴ note, is the banknote of choice for the darkest parts of the black economy, because it allows drug dealers⁵ and terrorists to carry large amounts of cash.

欧元区高官辩称，作为面值最高的欧元纸币，500欧元纸币是黑色经济的最黑暗部分喜欢使用的纸币，因为它便于毒贩和恐怖分子携带巨额现金。

Although the bill accounts for just 2.3 per cent of banknotes in the single currency area, it represents almost 30 per cent of their value.

尽管500欧元纸币仅占欧元区单一货币区纸币数量的2.3%，但其金额占比接近30%。

As well as ending production, the ECB said on Wednesday it had decided to stop issuing the E500 around the end of 2018, “taking into account concerns that this banknote could facilitate illicit⁶ activities”. It added that “in view of the international role of the euro and the widespread trust in its banknotes, the E500 will remain legal tender and?.?.?.?will always retain its value”.

周三，欧洲央行表示，“考虑到500欧元面值纸币可能会为非法行动提供便利引起的担忧，”该行已决定大约在2018年停发这种纸币。欧洲央行补充称，“鉴于欧元的国际角色以及欧元区纸币获得的广泛信任，500欧元纸币将保持法定货币地位……并将一直保有其面值。”

By making it more difficult to keep very large sums in cash, the abolition⁷ of the note could push otherwise reluctant people to put their savings in banks, raising fears that negative interest rates could eat into the principal.

欧洲央行提高了持有大量现金的难度，500欧元纸币的取消可能会推动那些原本不情愿的人们把资金存进银行，引起他们对于本金可能受到负利率侵蚀的担忧。

To date such rates, which are imposed on commercial banks’ accounts at the ECB itself, have not directly applied⁸ to ordinary savers in the eurozone.

负利率是针对商业银行在欧洲央行的账户，并不直接适用于欧元区内的普通储户。

The bank is adamant⁹ that all of the other denominations¹⁰ of its banknotes, which range from E5 to E200, will continue to be produced.

欧洲央行坚称，从5欧元至200欧元面值的纸币，将继续发行下去。

1 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

2 depicts   

描绘，描画( depict的第三人称单数 )； 描述

参考例句：

• The book vividly depicts French society of the 1930s. 这本书生动地描绘了20 世纪30 年代的法国社会。
• He depicts the sordid and vulgar sides of life exclusively. 他只描写人生肮脏和庸俗的一面。

3 savings   

n.存款，储蓄

参考例句：

• I can't afford the vacation,for it would eat up my savings.我度不起假，那样会把我的积蓄用光的。
• By this time he had used up all his savings.到这时，他的存款已全部用完。

4 denomination   

n.命名，取名，(度量衡、货币等的)单位

参考例句：

• The firm is still operating under another denomination.这家公司改用了名称仍在继续营业。
• Litre is a metric denomination.升是公制单位。

5 dealers   

n.商人( dealer的名词复数 )；贩毒者；毒品贩子；发牌者

参考例句：

• There was fast bidding between private collectors and dealers. 私人收藏家和交易商急速竞相喊价。
• The police were corrupt and were operating in collusion with the drug dealers. 警察腐败，与那伙毒品贩子内外勾结。

6 illicit   

adj.非法的，禁止的，不正当的

参考例句：

• He had an illicit association with Jane.他和简曾有过不正当关系。
• Seizures of illicit drugs have increased by 30% this year.今年违禁药品的扣押增长了30%。

7 abolition   

n.废除，取消

参考例句：

• They declared for the abolition of slavery.他们声明赞成废除奴隶制度。
• The abolition of the monarchy was part of their price.废除君主制是他们的其中一部分条件。

8 applied   

adj.应用的；v.应用，适用

参考例句：

• She plans to take a course in applied linguistics.她打算学习应用语言学课程。
• This cream is best applied to the face at night.这种乳霜最好晚上擦脸用。

9 adamant   

adj.坚硬的，固执的

参考例句：

• We are adamant on the building of a well-off society.在建设小康社会这一点上，我们是坚定不移的。
• Veronica was quite adamant that they should stay on.维罗妮卡坚信他们必须继续留下去。

10 denominations   

n.宗派( denomination的名词复数 )；教派；面额；名称

参考例句：

• Christians of all denominations attended the conference. 基督教所有教派的人都出席了这次会议。
• The service was attended by Christians of all denominations. 这次礼拜仪式各教派的基督徒都参加了。 来自《简明英汉词典》