英闻天下——262 EU Leaders Agree on Seven-Year Budget Deal

 　　The top leaders of the European Union have finalised the bloc's seven-year budget scheme after over 24 hours of negotiations¹.

 

　　The scheme involves a total spending cut of 34 billion euros compared to the last period.

 

　　The budget aims to strike a balance between southern Europe's much needed infrastructure² spending and farm subsidies³ and northern Europe's belt-tightening demands.

 

　　Finnish Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen:

 

　　"We are very satisfied. We could reach a compromise on new priorities. We will spend more to innovations and research, for instance, and the European Network Facilities but also to youth unemployment."

 

　　Officials say that over 12 billion euros is to be cut from the last budget proposal made in November when leaders were unable to make an agreement.

 

　　This is the first ever cut from the EU's budget.

 

　　The European Parliament must now approved the deal which could prove difficult as president Martin Schulz says that he will not accept excessive cuts.

1 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。

2 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

3 subsidies   

n.补贴，津贴，补助金( subsidy的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• European agriculture ministers failed to break the deadlock over farm subsidies. 欧洲各国农业部长在农业补贴问题上未能打破僵局。
• Agricultural subsidies absorb about half the EU's income. 农业补贴占去了欧盟收入的大约一半。 来自《简明英汉词典》