VOA标准英语2011--European Leaders Reach 'Broad Agreement' On Finances

European Leaders Reach 'Broad Agreement' On Finances

European leaders meeting at the second emergency summit in Brussels this week announced an agreement to force banks to sharply increase their capital requirements so they can absorb expected losses on holdings of Greek debt. Leaders say it's an important first step in a larger plan to restore financial stability in the region. But while the broad outlines of a comprehensive debt relief plan are starting to emerge, the details remain sketchy¹.

Under intense pressure to reach an accord aimed at resolving the two year old debt crisis - European leaders agreed on a plan Wednesday to force banks to boost their capital ratios to make sure they can deal with future emergencies.

Lithuanian president Dalia Grybauskaite called it a major breakthrough for the 27 member countries of the European Union. But she says now the work begins.

"Of course the main thing now is restructuring all the banking² sector³, to stabilize⁴ and to give the guarantees that we are all behind it. So the Greek package will be renegotiated now and to go to the banking sector and representatives of banks. But we 27 give green light for negotiations⁵ to be finalized⁶. And now it's all about technicalities," she said.

One of the technicalities involves the amount of Greek debt European banks are willing to write off.

European leaders want banks to take as much as a 60 percent loss, nearly three times the amount they agreed to in July.

Although England is not one of the 17 countries that use the euro, British Prime Minister David Cameron says the developments are crucial to the success of the entire continent.

"It's very much in Britain's interest that we sort out these problems and solve this crisis. We made good progress on the bank recapitalization. That wasn't watered down, it's now been agreed. It will only go ahead when the other parts of a full package go ahead and further progress on that needs to happen tonight (October 26, 2011)," he said.

German chancellor⁷ Angela Merkel, who won a mandate⁸ from German lawmakers to boost the size of the eurozone rescue fund, said it was crucial for the region to act as one.

"Germany can't do well if Europe doesn't. That's why the most important goal for the government must be that Europe emerges stronger from the crisis. This means Europe must become a Stability Union," she said.

Financial markets had anticipated more progress in Brussels this week.

Michael Hewson, a market analyst⁹ for CMC markets in London, said "We're not going to get a quick resolution, the market's going to have to suck it up."

While the immediate¹⁰ focus of the Brussels meetings have been on efforts by Greece to reduce its massive debt; Italy, Europe's third largest economy is also under pressure to adopt economic reforms to stave off the possibility that it could become the fourth eurozone country to need a bailout.

1 sketchy   

adj.写生的，写生风格的，概略的

参考例句：

• The material he supplied is too sketchy.他提供的材料过于简略。
• Details of what actually happened are still sketchy.对于已发生事实的详细情况知道的仍然有限。

2 banking   

n.银行业，银行学，金融业

参考例句：

• John is launching his son on a career in banking.约翰打算让儿子在银行界谋一个新职位。
• He possesses an extensive knowledge of banking.他具有广博的银行业务知识。

3 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

4 stabilize   

vt.（使）稳定，使稳固，使稳定平衡；vi.稳定

参考例句：

• They are eager to stabilize currencies.他们急于稳定货币。
• His blood pressure tended to stabilize.他的血压趋向稳定。

5 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。

6 finalized   

vt.完成（finalize的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• The draft of this article has been finalized [done]. 这篇文章已经定稿。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The draft was revised several times before it was finalized. 稿子几经删改才定下来。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

7 chancellor   

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。

8 mandate   

n.托管地；命令，指示

参考例句：

• The President had a clear mandate to end the war.总统得到明确的授权结束那场战争。
• The General Election gave him no such mandate.大选并未授予他这种权力。

9 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

10 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。