VOA慢速英语2020 德国成为欧盟轮值主席后面临的棘手问题（在线收听）

Europe faces big economic, trade and public health issues as Germany takes over the presidency 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 bloc 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 dealing with the COVID-19 health crisis and the economic damage it has caused in Europe. Other issues include the effects of Britain's withdrawal 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, Chancellor 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 spoke 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 crest 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 restrictions aimed at limiting the spread of the virus. Usually, Germany is considered one of the EU's more frugal 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 intensified negotiations 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 realization that she wants to have been a chancellor that has made Europe stronger," he noted.

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 legacy 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 Trump. 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.

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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