VOA标准英语2010年-EU Wants Sronger Measures to Fix Greek

EU Commissioner¹ Oliver Rehn is in Athens to discuss Greek proposals to straighten out its government finances. 

The European Union has urged Greece to implement² greater austerity measures immediately to tackle a debt crisis that has shaken the entire bloc³.

EU Finance Commissioner Olli Rehn made the call after a first round of talks with Greek officials amid growing market expectations of a trade-off between new deficit⁴ cutting steps and practical EU support for Greek borrowing.

The strength of the European currency has been under pressure since Greece's financial problems were revealed, with concern the problem could spread to other euro-zone countries.

Last week, the Greek Prime Minister called for more solidarity⁵ from the European Union over his country's debt crisis and announced plans to visit Germany, whose backing is vital for EU financial aid.

Greek newspapers have spent the past week speculating on what further hardships citizens will face, including pension cuts, salary freezes and the prospect⁶ of job cuts.

Athens News Agency journalist Harry⁷ Theofanous says he cannot recall a worse crisis in the past two-decades. "I think the mood is very somber⁸, I would call it," Theofanous said.  "It is also a very deep crisis, its not just a wide lake - there is also depth to it."

Prime Minister George Papandreou has said he will do whatever it takes to save the economy, no matter how painful.

Greece has said it would reduced the government budget deficit from 12.7 percent to 8.7 percent during the next nine months.

There have been reports that Germany is considering buying Greek government bonds through a state-owned bank, as an emergency measure.

In two weeks, the European Union will consider whether high-debt countries will be forced to take austerity measures like introducing wage cuts, employment freezes and longer working weeks.  By last weekend, the euro was trading at about $1.36, compared to $1.45 in December. 
 

1 commissioner   

n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员

参考例句：

• The commissioner has issued a warrant for her arrest.专员发出了对她的逮捕令。
• He was tapped for police commissioner.他被任命为警务处长。

2 implement   

n.(pl.)工具，器具；vt.实行，实施，执行

参考例句：

• Don't undertake a project unless you can implement it.不要承担一项计划，除非你能完成这项计划。
• The best implement for digging a garden is a spade.在花园里挖土的最好工具是铁锹。

3 bloc   

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。

4 deficit   

n.亏空，亏损；赤字，逆差

参考例句：

• The directors have reported a deficit of 2.5 million dollars.董事们报告赤字为250万美元。
• We have a great deficit this year.我们今年有很大亏损。

5 solidarity   

n.团结；休戚相关

参考例句：

• They must preserve their solidarity.他们必须维护他们的团结。
• The solidarity among China's various nationalities is as firm as a rock.中国各族人民之间的团结坚如磐石。

6 prospect   

n.前景，前途；景色，视野

参考例句：

• This state of things holds out a cheerful prospect.事态呈现出可喜的前景。
• The prospect became more evident.前景变得更加明朗了。

7 harry   

vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼

参考例句：

• Today,people feel more hurried and harried.今天，人们感到更加忙碌和苦恼。
• Obama harried business by Healthcare Reform plan.奥巴马用医改掠夺了商界。

8 somber   

adj.昏暗的，阴天的，阴森的，忧郁的

参考例句：

• He had a somber expression on his face.他面容忧郁。
• His coat was a somber brown.他的衣服是暗棕色的。